Minister for Local Government and Government Business, Lesley Griffiths AM will be visiting North Wales today (Thursday 19^th December) to learn first hand about some of the work carried out by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

The visit will start at Dangerpoint, the award-winning safety education centre which is based in Talacre, Flintshire.

Opened in 2005, DangerPoint is a registered charity developed by a group of organisations including Noorth Wales Police, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and BHP Billiton Petroleum Ltd as a purpose-built educational visitor centre. It features interactive displays on the importance of safety on the roads, in the home, on the beach and much more, with specially trained rangers to take the children around the centre and educate them in all aspects of personal and social safety. Opened in October 2005, the centre welcomes approximately 6,000 visitors from schools acrossNorth Wales every year.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service will also highlight some of its recent projects and achievements, including its Platinum award for corporate health. The Service was awarded the highest possible accolade in recognition of its 'outstanding' commitment to corporate social responsibility and social engagement in July this year.

The Service's achievements in relation to its programme of home fire safety checks, the work of theArson Reduction Team, thePhoenixProject's youth engagement initiatives, as well as the joint Road Safety Intervention Project with North Wales Police, will be among the work showcased during the visit.

An overview of the recent significant flooding events and the impact they had on the local area will also be highlighted to the Minister before she travels to Deeside fire station to meet local fire and rescue crews, with a display of the Service's water rescue units.

Chief Fire OfficerSimon Smithsaid: "Protecting our communities is our number one priority and being able to showcase and explain in detail some of the work we do is an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate our wide range of programmes and initiatives.

"Our emphasis on preventative work has evolved in recent years and the visit provided an opportunity to show the Minister how we engage with the more vulnerable members of our communities in our efforts to makeNorth Walesa safer place to live, work and visit."

Local Government and Government Business Minister Lesley Griffiths said: "I am pleased to be able to see the breadth of work which is carried out by the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, including prevention, promoting safety and providing a rescue service.  The excellent work the service provides along with other agencies acrossNorth Waleswas evident very recently during the flooding in Rhyl and other areas."

The Minister's visit to North Wales was preceded by visits to see the work of the other two Welsh fire and rescue services in South and in Mid andWest Wales.