Reminder: Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service Consultation

Press release from Warwickshire County Council, originally published 15 December 2023:

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue (WFRS) is inviting feedback on a proposed change to its service delivery model as part of its Resourcing to Risk approach.

Take the survey >>>

Resourcing to Risk aims to have the right resource, in the right place and at the right time, to keep people safe in their homes, their workplace, their environment and when they are travelling through Warwickshire.

The Service wants to hear views and feedback on this proposal, which optimises the distribution of fire appliances, firefighters and supporting resources so that they better align to risk and demand across the county.  

Talking about the need for change, Chief Fire Officer for WFRS Ben Brook said: “Currently our resource doesn’t match with activity levels. We have more fire appliances available at night when activity levels are lowest, and fewer fire appliances available between 8am and 10pm, which is when 89% of life and property incidents occur.   

“One of our challenges is that despite the commitment and hard work of on-call firefighters who serve their communities whilst also having other commitments such as full-time jobs, our on-call availability has fallen from 90% to 35% over the last five years. As a result, the 12 fire appliances which are crewed by on-call firefighters are, on average, only available one-third of the time. This is a similar picture nationwide and we expect this trend to continue in the long-term.” 

Councillor Andy Crump, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Fire and Rescue and Community Safety, said “I want to stress that this proposal isn’t about cutting costs and it’s not about closing fire stations. Instead, it’s about making sure that we’ve got our resource in the right place to make the best difference when an emergency happens. This consultation will stay open until March next year, giving everyone an opportunity to look at our proposal in detail and to tell us what they think. No decisions will be made until the consultation is over.”

A series of information events on the Resourcing to Risk proposal will be held in each of Warwickshire’s five districts and boroughs in the coming months, with the first taking place in Stratford upon Avon School on Weds 17 January 2024, 6:30pm.

To find out more and respond, visit https://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk/insights-service/wfrs-r2r.

Reserve your free place at an information event:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/warwickshire-fire-and-rescue-76075908553

If you need a paper copy of the survey, or an alternative format or language, please call 01926 410410 or email wfrsr2r@warwickshire.gov.uk.  

The last day for responses is 10 March 2024.