England fire funding rules clarified for mayoral authorities

by Featured News

Fire funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement

An explanatory note published on 9 February 2026 sets out how Fire and rescue functions will be funded and overseen for Mayoral Strategic Authorities in England through the Local Government Finance Settlement covering 2026 to 2027 through 2028 to 2029.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) issued the note as part of the final Settlement.

Where a Mayoral Strategic Authority has responsibility for fire and rescue, funding for those functions will be routed through the Local Government Finance Settlement.

Authorities with fire and rescue responsibilities are already treated as Fire and Rescue Authorities within the Settlement framework.

All funding for Mayoral Strategic Authorities, including fire and rescue, is counted within Core Spending Power.

Fire precepts and shadow arrangements

Mayoral Strategic Authorities can raise a single council tax precept to cover their general functions, including fire and rescue.

If a Mayor also holds Police and Crime Commissioner functions, a separate precept component is set for policing.

In the 12 months before any transfer of fire governance, a mayoral combined authority or mayoral combined county authority may, subject to regulations, exercise shadow fire and rescue functions.

During this period the Mayor would set a general precept that includes funding for fire and rescue preparations.

Mayoral precepts can in theory be subject to annual referendum limits set by the Secretary of State, though none have been applied to date.

A Mayoral Strategic Authority is only included in the Council Tax Revenue line of the Settlement for fire and rescue if it has formally agreed to take on those functions.

Fire budget scrutiny and transfers

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will require mayors to share their draft fire and rescue budget with the relevant scrutiny body before it is finalised.

This notification must show how much of the general precept relates specifically to fire and rescue.

Mayors must consider any report produced by the scrutiny body in response.

If material changes are made after the budget is finalised, the Mayor must notify the scrutiny body and publish related documentation.

Where Fire and Rescue Authority functions transfer to a Mayoral Strategic Authority, funding will move into the Local Government Finance Settlement under regulations setting out the timing and governance changes.

If existing Fire and Rescue Authority boundaries align with the mayoral area, funding will be aggregated from the previous arrangements, including any real-terms transitional protection.

Where boundaries do not align and need to be redrawn, MHCLG will assess options for fire funding and publish details later.

Any in-year transfers will be reflected in the annual update to the Local Government Finance Settlement.

The government has also earmarked £2.1m in transitional support to help Fire and Rescue Authorities manage potential transfers of functions, with specific allocations to follow.

NFCC calls for building regs overhaul to modernise England’s safety system

by Featured NewsSafety

NFCC calls for modernised building regs framework in England

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has called for modernisation of England’s building regulations and guidance, stronger accountability and more inclusive building design in a new Building Regulations and Guidance Position Statement issued on Wednesday 10 December 2025.

NFCC states that the Building Regulations 2010 and their Approved Documents no longer reflect modern construction methods, changing patterns of building use or the needs of a diverse and ageing population.

The organisation points out that much of the guidance is still based on post-war building studies.

It notes that this material has not kept pace with new risks or subsequent legislation such as the Equality Act 2010 and the Building Safety Act 2022.

According to NFCC, the current system leaves residents and building owners facing uncertainty over compliance and safety outcomes.

NFCC highlights that following the Approved Documents does not automatically secure compliance with the Building Regulations, while non-compliance does not always incur liability, which it says creates ambiguity that needs clearer standards, stronger competence and better oversight.

The Position Statement adds that some areas, including guidance on access and facilities for fire and rescue services, have gone more than a decade without detailed review.

NFCC also stresses that building design should enable all residents to evacuate without external assistance where possible.

It notes that government guidance still does not require evacuation lifts even in new residential buildings, despite the fact that many occupants cannot safely use stairs in an emergency.

Human factors, Grenfell lessons and evacuation expectations

NFCC links its call for reform directly to the experience of residents in real incidents.

The organisation states that design must consider human factors that can affect people’s ability to leave a building safely.

National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair, Phil Garrigan, said: “Buildings should be designed with the safety of the occupier in mind.

“Safety should never be compromised or considered secondary to the building design and the design should be inclusive and accessible from the outset.

“The Grenfell Tower fire highlighted the need to consider the human factors that can affect a person’s ability to leave a building safely – this must be built into planning and design from the very beginning.

“Our position statement is clear – the building regulation guidance is outdated, hasn’t kept pace with modern methods of construction, is too often misunderstood, and too slow to change.

“Residents have the right to expect that, should they need to, they can evacuate, or be supported to evacuate, their homes safely, including those with mobility impairments or other vulnerabilities.

“And those responsible for designing, constructing and managing buildings must adhere to clear and consistent standards.

“The Government’s commitment to further consultation and regular review of Approved Document B is welcome, but it must translate into meaningful, timely action.

“We need a modern, inclusive, and accountable system that reflects how people live today and ensures tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire can never be repeated.”

NFCC underlines that residents should be able to expect safe evacuation or supported evacuation if needed.

The council states that those responsible for designing, constructing and managing buildings must work to clear and consistent standards that reflect this expectation.

Culture change, consultations and current practices under scrutiny

NFCC sets its Position Statement in the context of Dame Judith Hackitt’s 2018 Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

That review called for a cultural shift towards prioritising safety and for consideration of how buildings will be used and managed once complete.

NFCC reports that fire and rescue services provided advice on more than 45,000 building regulation consultations last year.

The council notes that this advice is not always acted upon.

It warns that failure to follow that advice can result in costly measures such as prohibition notices and waking watches.

NFCC also draws attention to current interpretations of guidance that allow developers to rely on non-worsening provisions.

According to the Position Statement, these interpretations can be used to avoid installing life-safety systems such as sprinklers and firefighting lifts during refurbishment, even where such systems could be added at relatively low cost.

NFCC warns that, without regulatory action to prevent this type of practice, the culture change set out in the Independent Review will not be achieved.

The council states that firefighters must be able to rely on buildings to provide safety for crews and adequate facilities to perform their role.

It lists clear standards for vehicle access, water supply, well-designed firefighting shafts and effective corridor and basement ventilation as core requirements to support life-saving operations.

NFCC’s three core recommendations to government

NFCC’s Position Statement sets out three main recommendations for government.

On updating guidance, NFCC wants comprehensive reviews of Approved Documents at least every five years.

It calls for clearer definitions of common building situations and for mandatory evacuation lifts in all new residential buildings.

The council also advocates for retrofitted sprinklers in single-stair high-rise buildings.

It wants improved provisions for firefighter access and water supply.

NFCC adds that guidance should explicitly address long-term building management responsibilities.

On competence, NFCC’s statement refers to examination of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations.

It highlights potential measures including licensing principal contractors on higher-risk buildings and mandatory accreditation for fire risk assessors.

The organisation supports the development of a government-led Construction Skills Strategy to address workforce gaps across the system.

On oversight and accountability, NFCC recommends protecting building control bodies from commercial pressures.

It wants fire and rescue service advice to have statutory weight in the process.

The council calls for a review of non-worsening provisions to prevent avoidance of safety upgrades.

It also backs consistent enforcement of Operational Standards Rules to secure more reliable outcomes across projects.

State of Fire and Rescue 2024–25: What the HMICFRS report reveals about England’s fire services

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesResearch

What is the focus of the State of Fire and Rescue 2024–25 assessment?

The 2024–25 State of Fire and Rescue report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) sets out a detailed assessment of how England’s 44 fire and rescue services are performing.

Covering inspection results published between February 2023 and August 2025, it examines operational effectiveness, leadership, workforce culture, governance, and progress towards national reform.

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Andy Cooke QPM DL, commends the professionalism and public service ethos of the sector but warns that improvement remains uneven.

The report concludes that while services have made clear progress in certain areas, long-standing cultural and structural issues continue to hinder consistency and reform.

How have fire and rescue services performed overall?

HMICFRS completed its third full cycle of inspections between March 2023 and April 2025. This “Round 3” programme used an updated five-tier grading system, which introduced the category of adequate to better distinguish between acceptable and good performance.

Across England, inspectors closed 416 of 695 outstanding areas for improvement (AFIs), amounting to around 60 percent. T

hey also identified 67 examples of promising or innovative practice, shared through the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Positive Practice Portal.

Overall, 73 percent of all graded judgments were rated adequate, good or outstanding. Forty-three percent reached or exceeded the benchmark for good performance, the level HMICFRS says the public should expect.

Grades were distributed as follows:

  • 4 percent Outstanding
  • 39 percent Good
  • 30 percent Adequate
  • 24 percent Requires Improvement
  • 3 percent Inadequate

The strongest performance areas were financial sustainability and understanding risk. The weakest were leadership, equality and inclusion, and workforce planning.

While many services made progress, nearly half of the AFIs identified in earlier inspections remain unresolved, demonstrating that improvement has not been consistent or sustained across the country.

What does the report show about operational performance?

The Inspectorate found clear improvement in prevention, protection, and emergency response. Some services enhanced their community risk management planning and adopted data-led methods to target resources where they are most needed.

Protection teams, responsible for enforcing fire safety legislation and auditing high-risk premises, recorded the most progress.

The number of services achieving their audit targets rose from 21.6 percent in 2021–22 to 36.6 percent in 2024–25. Enforcement actions also increased by 24 percent over the same period.

Implementation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 recommendations remains a key measure of progress. HMICFRS reported that most services have improved control room communication, information sharing, and fire survival guidance procedures for high-rise incidents.

However, 16 services still lacked an electronic system for sharing rescue information between control and the incident ground, relying on radios and paper logs.

These methods, the report warns, are vulnerable to delays and miscommunication.

London Fire Brigade was highlighted for developing a fire survival guidance app that allows control room and incident commanders to update evacuation and rescue data in real time.

The report supports the Phase 2 Inquiry recommendations and notes that moving fire policy to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in 2025 has created an opportunity for better alignment between building safety, housing, and planning policy.

How are services managing prevention and protection demands?

Fire and rescue services continue to experience growing demand in their protection departments, driven by new building safety legislation, Grenfell-related remediation, and the establishment of the Building Safety Regulator.

While services have made progress, the Inspectorate warns that protection staff are under pressure from competing priorities, limited resources, and challenges recruiting qualified officers.

The number of specialist fire engineers remains low across both public and private sectors, and HMICFRS encourages government to expand education routes and professional training opportunities in this field.

Some services have adopted innovative solutions to manage workloads. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service has introduced artificial intelligence tools to analyse risk data and prioritise inspection work, while other services have strengthened partnerships with local authorities to manage building safety responsibilities.

Despite improvements, protection teams in several areas continue to struggle with staffing and training gaps, and HMICFRS warns that without sustained investment, enforcement activity could become inconsistent.

What progress has been made on Grenfell Tower Inquiry implementation?

The report confirms that services have made measurable progress in implementing the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 recommendations. Most have improved preparedness for high-rise fires, control room procedures, and information flow between responders.

HMICFRS found that London, Greater Manchester, and West Midlands fire and rescue services have embedded new command structures and digital tools to record and share fire survival guidance.

In February 2025, the Chief Inspector wrote to the Government and the sector with an interim update on progress, reiterating the importance of sustained, co-ordinated action. The report reinforces this message, noting that while progress is visible, full integration of new systems and procedures remains inconsistent.

The Inquiry’s Phase 2 report also called for a single government department to oversee both fire and building safety, a recommendation now reflected in the transfer of fire policy to MHCLG. The Inspectorate considers this an opportunity to ensure more coherent reform and accountability.

How well are services managing people, leadership, and culture?

Cultural and leadership concerns remain among the most significant findings.

The Inspectorate reports that, in too many services, senior leaders are not modelling expected values and behaviours. Poor workplace culture, discrimination, and lack of trust continue to appear in staff surveys and interviews.

Only a small number of services have fully embedded the Core Code of Ethics or established independent reporting mechanisms for misconduct. HMICFRS notes that failure to uphold standards undermines morale and hinders improvement.

Some services, such as Greater Manchester, London, and Humberside, have taken proactive steps by commissioning external culture reviews or establishing professional standards units. These actions, the report says, demonstrate that improvement is possible when leadership is consistent and transparent.

However, 17 services were rated requires improvement for managing performance and developing leaders. Succession planning remains a weak point, with limited pathways for staff to gain leadership experience or qualifications before promotion.

The Inspectorate renews its call for the creation of a College of Fire and Rescue to professionalise leadership development and ensure consistent training standards. The Government has accepted the concept in principle but has not announced a timetable for delivery.

What challenges exist in recruitment and workforce planning?

Workforce planning varies widely across services. Some have established strong data-driven models to track skills, training, and future needs, while others still lack a basic overview of workforce capability.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service was recognised for maintaining a rolling 24-month workforce plan linked to its community risk management plan. This approach considers new and emerging risks, succession needs, and staff retention across all departments.

However, HMICFRS found that most services focus primarily on operational staffing, giving less attention to non-operational functions such as prevention, protection, or technical support. This leads to gaps in specialist skills and puts extra pressure on existing staff.

Recruiting and retaining on-call firefighters remains one of the sector’s most persistent difficulties. Although a revised pay structure was introduced in 2025 to make the role more flexible, many services still depend on fixed-hour contracts that restrict availability.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s hybrid model, which allows retained staff to support community safety and inspection work between callouts, was cited as an effective approach to improving coverage.

How are services addressing efficiency and productivity?

Most services now operate within balanced budgets and demonstrate a clearer understanding of financial risk. Inflation, pension liabilities, and rising energy costs continue to pose challenges, but the majority of services have adapted through medium-term financial planning.

Of 44 authorities consulted by HMICFRS, 41 identified financial pressure as their main challenge. The Inspectorate urges all services to participate in NFCC financial benchmarking to compare expenditure and identify areas for savings.

Examples of innovation include County Durham and Darlington’s digital productivity tool, developed in-house using Microsoft Power BI, which records how staff time is spent and analyses efficiency across departments. London Fire Brigade’s online station performance dashboard provides similar insight, tracking prevention activity, training time, and response performance.

The report emphasises that productivity improvements should align with each service’s community risk management plan. HMICFRS also calls for government to reconsider the absence of dedicated capital funding for the sector, arguing that long-term infrastructure investment is essential to support technological upgrades and safe working environments.

What progress has been made on governance and reform?

The 2024–25 assessment describes the transfer of fire policy to MHCLG as a “critical opportunity” for long-awaited reform.

HMICFRS reiterates seven national recommendations first set out in previous reports:

  1. Clarify the role of fire and rescue services and staff.
  2. Modernise pay and conditions frameworks.
  3. Strengthen operational independence for chief fire officers.
  4. Improve national accountability and oversight mechanisms.
  5. Establish a College of Fire and Rescue.
  6. Build a comprehensive data and evidence base for performance.
  7. Grant HMICFRS enforcement powers to compel action.

Three of these recommendations remain unaddressed. The Inspectorate argues that reform has been slowed by unclear responsibility, inconsistent leadership structures, and insufficient legislative support.

Sir Andy Cooke calls for ministers to give HMICFRS powers equivalent to those held in policing, enabling the Inspectorate to require compliance with its recommendations rather than rely on voluntary cooperation.

What does the Inspectorate say about learning and improvement?

HMICFRS stresses that lasting progress depends on openness and collaboration. Services that align closely with national guidance and participate actively in sector-wide learning generally perform better.

The report highlights the benefits of cross-service collaboration and warns against attempts to manage or filter information provided during inspection. Future assessments will place greater emphasis on how openly services engage with the process and how effectively they implement recommendations.

National learning events, including leadership workshops and culture forums, are recognised as effective mechanisms for sharing knowledge. HMICFRS encourages every service to publish clear improvement plans and track outcomes transparently.

How well are services supporting staff well-being and inclusion?

Most services have systems in place to monitor staff welfare, though consistency remains limited. Good practice examples include Humberside’s well-being support initiatives and Greater Manchester’s structured peer-support programme.

While some progress has been made in workforce diversity, representation remains low at senior levels. The Inspectorate calls for coordinated national campaigns to attract underrepresented groups, alongside better mentoring and progression frameworks.

HMICFRS notes that equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives are more effective when supported by visible leadership commitment and clear accountability.

What are the key findings from the 2024–25 report?

The Inspectorate concludes that the fire and rescue sector has improved its operational capability, protection work, and financial management, but continues to face significant challenges in leadership, culture, and workforce reform.

Key findings include:

  • Persistent inconsistency between services remains the main barrier to progress.
  • Leadership development and professionalisation are essential to sustainable improvement.
  • A values-driven culture and ethical leadership are necessary to rebuild trust.
  • Preparedness for complex incidents has improved but digital capability gaps remain.
  • Financial pressures are the sector’s most widespread and enduring risk.
  • Continuous learning and open collaboration are the strongest drivers of progress.

HMICFRS emphasises that reform must focus on leadership accountability, clear national standards, and the professionalisation of fire and rescue roles.

What is the overall outlook for the sector?

Sir Andy Cooke concludes that England’s fire and rescue services are safer, more accountable, and more capable than when inspections began in 2018. However, improvement remains inconsistent and slow.

He attributes this to cultural issues, fragmented governance, and the absence of structural reform. The Chief Inspector states that decisive leadership, legislative change, and the establishment of a national professional framework are critical to securing long-term progress.

Future inspections for 2025–27 will place greater emphasis on leadership, culture, and governance, with a sharper focus on how services address persistent barriers to improvement.

While acknowledging the dedication of fire and rescue staff, the report warns that without clear direction and reform, the sector will continue to fall short of its potential to deliver a consistent, professional, and trusted service for the public.

Why England’s flood resilience could falter without reform

by Breaking NewsFlooding

Flood resilience in England: A systemic risk requiring national coordination

The UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee has published a new report warning that England’s approach to flood resilience is fragmented, reactive and underfunded.

The Fourth Report of Session 2024–26, titled Flood resilience in England, was released on Monday 13 October 2025.

The Committee said flooding from rivers, coasts, surface water and groundwater is intensifying due to climate change, urbanisation and land-use change.

It reported that communities across England face repeated disruption, with long recovery times, emotional distress and damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure.

According to the report, the social and economic effects of flooding include displacement, financial hardship, anxiety, lost livelihoods and disrupted education and essential services.

High-risk properties face rising insurance costs and mortgage challenges, while the cumulative impact is placing strain on both households and local economies.

The Committee acknowledged that government capital funding for flood defences has increased but said the scale of investment remains insufficient relative to overall risk.

It described the current system as fragmented, with overlapping responsibilities and reactive interventions that fail to deliver long-term resilience.

The report concluded that a single national body should take overarching responsibility for leadership, accountability and coordination across agencies.

Catchment-scale solutions and nature-based measures

The Committee called for a strategic shift from property-focused defence schemes to integrated, locally led solutions at river catchment level.

It said investment should prioritise measures that reduce flood risk across entire communities, balancing structural defences with nature-based interventions.

The report outlined examples such as tree planting, wetland restoration and sustainable drainage, which can slow and store water while providing environmental co-benefits.

It stated that resilience should be built into homes through higher new-build standards and government-backed support for retrofitting existing properties.

Development in high-risk zones must be more tightly managed, the Committee said, to avoid compounding exposure to known flood risks.

The report also called for a single, trusted reporting line for residents during flood events, helping coordinate warnings, response and recovery.

Funding, insurance and community capacity gaps

The Committee found that communities, local authorities and voluntary groups play a critical role in preparedness, response and recovery but remain underfunded and inconsistently supported.

It recommended that volunteers and flood action groups be formally recognised and given sustainable training and resources to ensure continuity and equitable coverage across different areas.

According to the report, these efforts should align with national and local frameworks, including the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy and Flood Risk Management Plans.

It warned that financial mechanisms underpinning resilience are not yet sufficient to secure long-term protection or affordability.

The report said Flood Re, the joint government and insurance industry scheme, has stabilised the market but that England is not on track to be fully risk reflective or flood resilient before the scheme’s planned end in 2039.

Without policy changes, the Committee said, protection gaps will persist and leave households without affordable insurance options.

Programmes such as Build Back Better and Flood Performance Certificates can help incentivise property resilience, but the report urged targeted government interventions to make these measures more widely accessible.

Towards a long-term vision for a resilient England

The Environmental Audit Committee concluded that achieving flood resilience will require a long-term national vision addressing the full human, social and economic costs of flooding.

It stated that effective practice involves coordinated water management at catchment scale, integrated investment in both structural and nature-based defences and equitable funding that reflects need rather than property value.

The report called for government to embed resilience across policy areas and ensure that each department’s spending aligns with national flood and climate adaptation goals.

By adopting a coordinated, adaptive approach, the Committee said, England can protect lives, homes and public investment for decades to come.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The findings are directly relevant to emergency planners, local resilience forums and incident commanders who manage large-scale flood response.

Improved catchment coordination and reporting mechanisms would influence how fire and rescue services integrate flood operations with other agencies.

Facility managers and risk assessors in high-risk regions may also need to review contingency planning and drainage infrastructure in light of potential new national standards.

Building engineers and fire-protection contractors could be affected by new expectations for flood-resilient design in both new-build and retrofit projects.

If government adopts the report’s recommendations, future planning and funding frameworks may reshape how fire and rescue authorities prepare for and recover from flooding incidents.

HMICFRS reports assess English fire services’ operational readiness

by Breaking News

West Midlands Fire Service receives mixed grades in latest inspection

HMICFRS has released its latest inspection reports assessing the performance of three fire and rescue services in England.

The reports, published on 18 June 2025, cover West Midlands Fire Service, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

West Midlands Fire Service was graded as ‘good’ in four areas, ‘adequate’ in four, and ‘requires improvement’ in three.

HMICFRS said the service maintained strong emergency response standards, with consistent achievement of its five-minute response target and effective collaboration during major incidents.

It noted that the service had implemented a dynamic, risk-based inspection programme.

However, inspectors raised concerns regarding training, organisational learning and financial oversight.

The inspectorate said the service must improve its approach to risk-critical training and workforce development.

It added that financial planning lacked robust forecasting and scrutiny mechanisms.

His Majesty’s Inspector Lee Freeman said: “I am pleased with the performance of West Midlands Fire Service and the positive and constructive way in which staff worked with us.

“It must improve in some areas to provide a consistently good service.

“For example, it needs to make sure its financial assumptions and plans are robust and scrutinised, so they support a sustainable future.”

East Sussex Fire and Rescue praised for inclusivity, urged to improve prevention

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was assessed as ‘good’ in six categories, ‘adequate’ in four, and ‘requires improvement’ in one.

According to HMICFRS, the service demonstrated progress in risk identification through improved partnerships and use of data to locate high-risk individuals and premises.

Inspectors also recognised its establishment of a public advisory group and focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.

The inspectorate stated that these changes had strengthened the service’s engagement and planning.

However, it found that prevention efforts needed more focus.

HMICFRS said the timeliness and reach of home fire safety visits should be improved.

It also noted that reliance on paper-based systems was hindering effective incident management, particularly for high-rise incidents.

His Majesty’s Inspector Roy Wilsher said: “It was positive to see that the service has made progress since our previous inspection.

“However, the service needs to improve in other areas to provide a consistently good service.
“For example, by making sure it offers effective prevention activities to its communities.”

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue strengthens leadership but lacks major incident readiness

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service received ‘good’ grades in six categories and ‘adequate’ in five.

HMICFRS stated that the service had improved productivity using data dashboards and strategic resource planning.

It reported that financial management had enabled savings without reducing service capability.

Inspectors also noted successful partnerships with universities and leadership training programmes designed to shift organisational culture.

Despite these gains, the inspectorate found that many staff lacked confidence in handling major incidents.

Concerns were raised about preparedness for high-rise fires and marauding terrorist attacks.

The report also recommended improvements in how dual contracts are managed to ensure rest and fitness for duty.

His Majesty’s Inspector Michelle Skeer said: “The service has embraced change and made significant progress since our last inspection in 2022.

“I would like to commend the strategic leadership team and all staff across the service for their willingness to change and their continued commitment to improvement.”

Inspection framework and grading criteria applied consistently across services

HMICFRS applied the same 11-category assessment framework to all three services.

Grades ranged from ‘good’, meaning the service met expected standards, to ‘adequate’ and ‘requires improvement’, which highlight areas needing focused development.

The framework covers topics including effectiveness, efficiency, and people management.

Reports are part of the inspectorate’s rolling inspection programme under its statutory remit.

According to HMICFRS, findings are intended to help services identify gaps and prioritise reforms.

The inspectorate explained that consistency of application across regions is key to driving national improvement.

Each report includes tailored recommendations for leadership teams to address.

Financial oversight and staff readiness emerge as common concerns

Across all three services, HMICFRS identified areas for improvement in financial governance and workforce preparedness.

West Midlands Fire Service was advised to strengthen financial forecasting and scrutiny practices.

East Sussex was encouraged to modernise its data and communication systems.

North Yorkshire was told to improve staff readiness for complex and large-scale incidents.

Inspectors noted that while operational performance was generally stable, sustaining improvement requires better resource alignment.

The reports indicate a shared need for improved internal learning systems and long-term planning.

Each service has been given specific actions to address these concerns in the coming months.

HMICFRS reports assess English fire services’ operational readiness: Summary

HMICFRS published inspection reports on 18 June 2025 assessing three English fire services.

West Midlands Fire Service received ‘good’ grades in four categories, ‘adequate’ in four and ‘requires improvement’ in three.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service received ‘good’ in six categories, ‘adequate’ in four and ‘requires improvement’ in one.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service received six ‘good’ and five ‘adequate’ ratings, with no areas requiring improvement.

HMICFRS commended West Midlands for emergency response and risk-based inspections.

The service was criticised for gaps in training, financial planning and workforce development.

East Sussex was praised for data use and inclusion.

It was advised to improve prevention activities and upgrade paper-based systems.

North Yorkshire improved productivity and culture.

It was advised to strengthen staff readiness for major incidents.

All services were assessed using HMICFRS’s 11-category framework.

Common issues included financial oversight and preparedness for complex incidents.

Fire and rescue services in England face funding shortfall as incident rates rise

by Breaking NewsFloodingSearch and Rescue

Fire and rescue incident demand rises 20% in England

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has reported that fire and rescue services in England attended over 600,000 incidents in 2024, a 20% increase compared with 2014.

According to NFCC analysis of Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data, fire and rescue services responded to 600,185 incidents in the year ending December 2024, compared to 499,934 incidents in 2014.

The NFCC said the number of non-fire incidents has increased by 65% over the same period, from 128,488 in 2014 to 211,631 in 2024.

Collaboration incidents and public health emergencies increase demands

The NFCC reported that in 2024, fire and rescue services in England attended 72,694 collaboration incidents, an 11% increase on the previous year.

It said these included responding to incidents alongside other emergency services, assisting entry and exit, and attending suicide-related events.

The NFCC stated that the number of suicide-related incidents attended by fire and rescue services rose from 1,119 in 2014 to 3,184 in 2024, an increase of 184%.

The organisation noted that such incidents have steadily increased in the last decade, alongside wider public health challenges.

Climate change increases wildfire and flooding callouts

According to the NFCC, the number of flooding incidents attended by fire and rescue services has increased by 18% in recent years.

It said the 5-year rolling average rose from 13,854 between 2012 and 2019, to 16,412 between 2019 and 2024.

The NFCC added that 225 wildfires had already been attended as of 27 May 2025, compared with 34 for the same period in 2024 and 106 in 2022, which was a record year for wildfires.

The council stated that these trends show fire and rescue services are responding to risks directly linked to the climate crisis.

Workforce reductions and underinvestment raise concerns

The NFCC said the number of wholetime firefighters in England has fallen by 25% since 2008, a reduction of approximately 11,000 personnel.

It estimated that fire and rescue services have lost nearly £1 billion in capital investment since the removal of the capital funding grant in 2014/15.

According to the NFCC, this loss has affected the ability of services to maintain and modernise infrastructure, including fire stations.

NFCC Chair Phil Garrigan said: “These figures are unequivocal – fire and rescue services are busier now than they were 10 years ago, and we are taking on more responsibility, not less.

“The risks faced are now more challenging and more complex.

“Despite this fact, we are seeing firefighter numbers falling, whereas all other public services are seeing their numbers return to pre-austerity levels.”

Garrigan added: “Our work to support our blue light colleagues is crucial in maintaining public safety and we welcome the opportunity to make a real difference but, if it is to be sustained against a backdrop of increasing demand, we need to see investment back into the fire and rescue service.”

“If we leave fire and rescue services without proper financial support and investment, we risk undermining public and firefighter safety.

“When it comes to wildfires, flooding and terrorism – fire and rescue services are right at the heart of the response.

“If we fail to invest, then we need to be prepared to answer to the communities that rely on these services in their greatest time of need.”

Garrigan continued: “The world has changed, and we cannot rely on an outdated funding model that has removed all capital funding and hasn’t responded to a changing demand profile or the impact of the climate change crisis to underpin a service as crucial as fire and rescue.”

Fire and rescue services in England face funding shortfall as incident rates rise: Summary

The National Fire Chiefs Council has reported that fire and rescue services in England responded to 600,185 incidents in 2024.

This represents a 20% increase compared to 2014.

The number of non-fire incidents rose from 128,488 in 2014 to 211,631 in 2024.

Collaboration-related callouts increased by 11% in 2024, reaching 72,694 incidents.

Suicide-related incidents increased by 184% over the last decade.

The 5-year average for flooding incidents rose by 18% since 2019.

Fire and rescue services responded to 225 wildfires by 27 May 2025.

This is over 100 more than during the same period in 2022.

The NFCC estimates a £1 billion capital investment loss since 2014/15.

Firefighter numbers in England have declined by 25% since 2008.

The NFCC has called for renewed investment in fire and rescue services.

Fire and rescue services in England attend 600,000 incidents, fire-related deaths fall in 2024

by Breaking NewsResearchSafety

Total incidents increased while fires decreased

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published accredited statistics showing that fire and rescue services (FRSs) in England attended 600,185 incidents in the year ending December 2024.

This represents a 1.2% increase from 2023.

The figures show a long-term rise in total incidents, up 20% from 499,934 in 2014.

Fire incidents made up 23% of all attended incidents in 2024, the lowest proportion in a decade.

Fire false alarms accounted for 42% and non-fire incidents made up 35%.

These proportions have shifted significantly since 2014, when fires accounted for 31%, false alarms 44%, and non-fire incidents 26%.

Fire incidents at record low for year-end figures

In 2024, FRSs attended 136,702 fires, a 3.9% decrease from the previous year.

This is the lowest year-end total since current records began.

Primary fires, which include building fires and those with casualties, fell by 2.2% to 61,041.

Building fires, a major subset of primary fires, dropped 2.7% to 38,144.

Fires in high-rise residential buildings (10 or more storeys) fell by 0.9% to 697.

Outdoor fires showed continued sensitivity to weather patterns, with notable peaks during hot, dry summers.

Rise in non-fire incidents including medical and collaboration responses

Non-fire incidents rose to 211,631 in 2024, a 5.2% increase from 2023.

This marks the highest total since 2011 and a 65% rise compared to 2014.

Collaboration incidents, including assisting other agencies, increased by 11% and now account for 34% of non-fire incidents.

Medical incidents decreased by 6.3%, continuing a downward trend since the end of Emergency Medical Response trials in 2017.

Flooding and water rescue incidents rose by 2.2%.

Road traffic collisions increased by 1.5%.

False alarms continued to increase, led by apparatus errors

Fire false alarms reached 251,852 in 2024, up 0.8% from 2023.

This is the highest annual total since 2011.

Apparatus-related false alarms made up the majority, totalling 179,735, a 1.2% increase.

Calls made in good faith rose 0.9% to 66,232.

Malicious false alarms fell by 10% to 5,885, continuing a long-term decline.

Fire-related fatalities declined overall but rose in dwellings

There were 254 fire-related fatalities in 2024, down from 271 the previous year.

Of these, 199 occurred in dwelling fires, an increase of 1.5%.

Non-fatal casualties remained steady at 6,338.

Among these, 2,779 required hospital treatment, a slight increase of 0.5%.

Two fatal fires occurred in high-rise flats, resulting in two deaths, unchanged from the previous year.

Response times increased slightly for primary fires

The average response time for primary fires was 9 minutes and 4 seconds, up two seconds from the previous year.

Response times to dwelling fires increased to 8 minutes and 6 seconds.

For secondary fires, the average response time decreased by six seconds to 9 minutes and 18 seconds.

Other outdoor fires saw the largest response time at 11 minutes and 2 seconds, though this represented a 19-second improvement from 2023.

Long-term trends show shift in emergency response demands

Compared with 2014, total incidents attended have increased by 20%.

Over the same period, fires have decreased by 11%, and non-fire incidents have increased by 65%.

Fire false alarms have risen 15% since 2014, largely driven by apparatus-related triggers.

Medical incidents, once rising during the EMR trials, have fallen 25% since 2019.

Collaboration responses have trebled since 2015, following changes in legislation.

These figures reflect ongoing changes in the role of fire and rescue services beyond firefighting.

Fire and rescue services in England attend 600,000 incidents as fire-related deaths fall in 2024: Summary

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has reported that fire and rescue services in England attended 600,185 incidents in 2024.

This is an increase of 1.2% from the previous year and 20% from 2014.

Fires accounted for 136,702 incidents, a 3.9% decrease from 2023.

Primary fires fell by 2.2%, while secondary fires dropped by 5.1%.

Non-fire incidents increased to 211,631, up 5.2% year-on-year.

Fire false alarms rose 0.8% to 251,852, with most due to apparatus.

There were 254 fire-related fatalities, down 6.3% from 2023.

Dwelling fire deaths rose to 199.

Non-fatal casualties remained stable at 6,338.

Average response time for primary fires was 9 minutes and 4 seconds.

Fire services play key role in tackling youth violence in England

by Featured NewsResearch

Multi-agency efforts address serious youth violence

A report published on 20 November 2024 by Ofsted, HMICFRS, HM Inspectorate of Probation, and the Care Quality Commission underscores the importance of fire services and other agencies in addressing youth violence in England.

The findings reveal that children as young as 11 are carrying knives for protection due to feeling unsafe.

A 2023 Youth Endowment Fund survey found that one in four children in England and Wales had been victims or perpetrators of violence, and nearly half had witnessed violent incidents.

Fire and rescue services were highlighted for their contribution to local safeguarding partnerships, particularly in identifying risks and collaborating on prevention strategies.

Fire services’ contribution to safeguarding partnerships

The report noted that effective multi-agency initiatives include fire services working with schools and community organisations to improve safety awareness and identify vulnerable children.

Inspectors cited examples of partnerships where fire services provided safety education, which helped mitigate risks linked to youth violence.

However, the report highlighted inconsistencies in how fire services and other agencies collaborate across regions, leaving some children without adequate protection.

The lack of comprehensive guidance on multi-agency working was also flagged as a key barrier to consistent safeguarding.

Training and early intervention critical for success

The report emphasised that fire services have an important role in early intervention.

Proper training enables fire personnel to identify and respond to risks effectively, especially for children at heightened risk of harm due to trauma or neurodivergence.

The report recommends expanding fire services’ involvement in preventative programmes and improving information-sharing practices to ensure timely interventions.

Michelle Skeer of HMICFRS said: “The effects of serious youth violence on both children and communities are deeply concerning.

“It is vital that police forces, fire services, and other safeguarding partners intervene at the earliest opportunity to disrupt risks to children and young people.”

Recommendations for fire services and safeguarding partners

The report calls for fire services to strengthen their partnerships with police, health services, and local authorities to develop cohesive strategies for reducing youth violence.

Training and awareness campaigns led by fire services, particularly in schools, were identified as valuable tools for prevention and education.

Inspectors also recommended focusing on children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to ensure that interventions are inclusive and effective.

Speaking about the findings, Lucy Harte of the CQC said: “We have seen how effective training and strong partnerships between local services can make a significant difference to the experience of these vulnerable children – but this is not a consistent experience for everyone.”

Role of fire services in addressing youth violence highlighted in England: summary

A report by Ofsted, HMICFRS, HM Inspectorate of Probation, and CQC highlights the crucial role of fire services in multi-agency efforts to tackle youth violence in England.

Fire services contribute to safeguarding by collaborating with schools and local organisations, providing safety education, and identifying risks early.

However, inconsistencies in these efforts and a lack of clear guidance hinder broader success.

The report emphasises the importance of improving training and partnerships to ensure fire services and other agencies can effectively protect vulnerable children, particularly those with special needs or neurodivergence.

Recommendations include expanding fire services’ role in prevention and intervention programmes to reduce harm.