Fire and rescue service
The government's intentions for reform and modernisation in the fire and rescue service are now clear. A new National Framework sets an overall vision for the fire authorities to interpret and apply locally, using an integrated risk-based approach. Fire authorities are expected to extend their work on fire prevention and protection. This means that fire authorities must increase and improve the ways in which they collaborate with their communities and other emergency agencies. The part that the fire and rescue service plays in community safety will be strengthened and enhanced.
The Commission has been invited to contribute to improvement through new performance assessment and quality assurance procedures. We are now responsible for the independent inspection of the fire and rescue service and we have worked with government and the fire service to develop a new Comprehensive Performance Assessment programme for this service. We are assessing how well the fire authorities are co-operating with other agencies and whether they are engaging with local people. We will examine how well agencies are working together to achieve the aim of fewer fires and fewer fire-related injuries or loss of life, and we will make sure that our own work is co-ordinated with that of other regulators to minimise the burden of regulation.
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