Dave Fanning joined Merseyside Fire Brigade as a 16 year old cadet firefighter in 1964, serving at many Fire Stations in Liverpool from 1966 to 1982 both as a fire fighter and a fire officer. In 1982, he began his association with Toxteth Fire Station which lasted ten years, returning to Toxteth in 1995 as the Station Commander before retiring after 35 years service in 1999.
Whilst serving at Toxteth after the well publicised riots in 1981, Dave realised that some kind of scheme needed to be introduced in the local schools to reduce the number of fires where small children were being killed or seriously burnt.
After a fatal fire he attended in 1985, when an 18 month old girl was burnt to death in a fire started by her 3 year old brother, Dave designed a programme for local schools where a fire fighter would belong to a group of schools. He/She would go into the school and tell the children about the dangers of matches, hoax calls and starting fires.
At that time, he also created a character to get the message across - Phil the Fire Engine was born. Unfortunately Dave's ideas did not go down well with Merseyside Fire Brigade at that time, as such schemes were foreign to most fire brigades back then. So, Dave wrote a number of stories about Phil attending fires, car crashes, and carrying out all sorts of rescues.
In 1995, when Dave returned to Toxteth Fire Station as the Station Commander, Dave now had the authority to implement his school fire fighter scheme. In two years, the scheme earned two Business in The Community Awards, one of which was presented by Prince Charles at Lancaster House in London. The scheme was an amazing success, small fires were reduced by over 75%, hoax calls reduced by 70% and not one child was injured in a fire in Toxteth from 1995 to 1999.
Phil's stories have been hidden in a cupboard for almost 20 years, now Dave has been encouraged to publish the tales for all small children to enjoy, especially those who like fire engines. The first three stories in the series have now been published.
Whilst serving at Toxteth after the well publicised riots in 1981, Dave realised that some kind of scheme needed to be introduced in the local schools to reduce the number of fires where small children were being killed or seriously burnt.
After a fatal fire he attended in 1985, when an 18 month old girl was burnt to death in a fire started by her 3 year old brother, Dave designed a programme for local schools where a fire fighter would belong to a group of schools. He/She would go into the school and tell the children about the dangers of matches, hoax calls and starting fires.
At that time, he also created a character to get the message across - Phil the Fire Engine was born. Unfortunately Dave's ideas did not go down well with Merseyside Fire Brigade at that time, as such schemes were foreign to most fire brigades back then. So, Dave wrote a number of stories about Phil attending fires, car crashes, and carrying out all sorts of rescues.
In 1995, when Dave returned to Toxteth Fire Station as the Station Commander, Dave now had the authority to implement his school fire fighter scheme. In two years, the scheme earned two Business in The Community Awards, one of which was presented by Prince Charles at Lancaster House in London. The scheme was an amazing success, small fires were reduced by over 75%, hoax calls reduced by 70% and not one child was injured in a fire in Toxteth from 1995 to 1999.
Phil's stories have been hidden in a cupboard for almost 20 years, now Dave has been encouraged to publish the tales for all small children to enjoy, especially those who like fire engines. The first three stories in the series have now been published.
Phil the Fire Engine and the Barn Fire Published by Trafford Press
ISBN: 141208579-9
Phil the Fire Engine The House Fire Publishe by Redwood Press
ISBN: 978-0-9560557-0-5
Phil the Fire Engine Bonfire Night published by Redwood Press
ISBN: 978-0-9560557-1-2
Dave Fanning
2008
I hope young children everywhere enjoy Phil's adventures and learn the danger of fire. Hopefully they will remember the safety message for the rest of their lives. Dave Fanning
2008