The Insurance Council of Australia and Fire and Rescue NSW have pledged to work together on improving community safety.

They detailed the partnership last week at the council’s first Insurance Industry Forum at Sydney fire station, where representatives discussed key research findings and safety strategies for fire-affected communities.

ICA CEO Andrew Hall says the partnership “heralds a new era in fire safety education and risk reduction”, allowing the groups to share vital data.

“Insurance companies not only play a critical role in understanding the risk factors policyholders face, they also are integral to helping communities recover from fire-related incidents,” Mr Hall said. “As insurers, we have access to data about how fires start and what the causes are, and this partnership aims to help us better understand how we can utilise this data to drive improved community safety outcomes.”

Mr Hall says key issues include the increasing risk of lithium-ion battery fires, which are a “real concern”. The NSW government recently implemented stricter safety standards for lithium-ion battery products.

“Our communities are facing modern fire risks, and this partnership will uncover modern solutions,” he said.

“Together, we are stronger and more capable of facing the challenges ahead.”

NSW fire service commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell says the partnership will allow firefighters to take a “proactive approach” towards community safety.

“We’re really keen to leverage the combined expertise of both organisations, especially when it comes to building a shared view of current and emerging fire risk and uplifting community education to minimise this risk to better protect people and their assets,” he said.

“This partnership, which establishes a foundation for future initiatives between [the fire service] and ICA, will effectively protect lives, property and the environment.”