“You won’t regret it”: Station Manager Krissy Foster-Pullen encourages staff to apply for Fleur Lombard Bursary

As a Control Firefighter, Krissy Foster-Pullen visited New York Fire Department to find out more about youth fire safety interventions thanks to the Fleur Lombard Bursary.

Krissy used the bursary funding to shadow a fire safety interventions officer, who headed up the community safety department at New York Fire Department. Krissy travelled to numerous schools in the city – including the Bronx, Queens and Long Island – to gain a better understanding of their interventions with the aim of taking these learnings back to Avon Fire & Rescue Service to improve safety interventions with local teenagers.

The fund, set up in the memory of Firefighter Fleur Lombard, aims to encourage fire and rescue service staff to travel and learn about the work of other fire services across the world.

Providing funding of up to £2,000, the fund aims to advance the education of junior members of the fire and rescue service – up to and including Watch Manager or Hay 6 staff – to enable them to study fire and rescue service related issues elsewhere in the UK, in Europe, or worldwide.

Now working as a Station Manager Control at Avon Fire & Rescue Service, Krissy said: “I would encourage anyone with an idea or interest to apply for the bursary, it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel and find out more about the work of fire and rescue services across the world.

“Not only do I look back on my research and travels fondly, I learnt a lot about a completely different way of working that inspired me to bring back those new ideas to my own Service. It was an honour to keep Fleur’s memory alive by using the bursary to learn more about New York Fire Departments fire safety interventions.

“If you’re interested, I’d absolutely encourage you to apply – you won’t regret it.”

For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.avonfire.gov.uk/charity/the-fleur-lombard-bursary