The fire and rescue service

We aim to create conditions in which the Fire and Rescue Service is able to provide an effective service to the communities it serves. The Department undertakes a range of programmes and projects in order to provide this support. We are reviewing some aspects of this work in line with the Government's decentralisation and localism priorities.

Background

Fire and rescue services are delivered in England by 46 Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) of differing size and structure. Central government provides a statutory framework, and allocates financial resources through Revenue Support Grant and other means. The Department for Communities and Local Government also funds the Fire Resilience Programme which aims to deliver increased capability and national resilience.

What we are doing

The following is a brief summary of the key projects that the Fire, Resilience and Emergencies Directorate and the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser are taking forward:

Fire and Rescue Service Financial Framework - to ensure there is a fair and well-managed financial framework to provide Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) with funding to deliver its statutory duties
Fire and Rescue Service Performance Framework - Ministers have yet to take a decision on a future performance regime (if any) following the abolition of the Comprehensive Area Assesment
Fire Futures - A review of the Fire Service to determine their future role and shape
Public Fire Safety - Government has a key strategic role to play to promote and maintain the fire safety of the public including
- the application and implementation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the FSO) which applies to all non-domestic dwellings
- formulating wider evidenced-based community fire safety policy with a view to reducing the societal and economic costs of fire
Operational Guidance - A programme of work to ensure that the Fire and Rescue Service receives timely, focused and prioritised new operational guidance to support firefighter safety and enhances the delivery of the service to the community. The guidance also enables interoperability between FRSs and supports National Resilience
Crown Premises Inspection - A risk-based audit programme, to enforce the fire safety duties in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), with regard to designated Crown owned or occupied premises
Research and Statistics - Analytical support and data to underpin the evidence for key policy work and the Fire and Resilience Programme
Sponsorship of the Fire Service College - The organisation is a Department for Communities and Local Government Agency and Trading Fund. Its primary function is to provide firefighter training for the Fire and Rescue Service in England. It also provides fire-related training to the fire and rescue services in Wales and Scotland, to public sector agencies and to the private sector in the UK and internationally.