National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) News

Calls for building owners to speed up fire safety remediation work have been backed by the county’s fire service. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue supports a joint statement from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and regulatory bodies which warns building owners that they need to get on with remediation work or face enforcement action. Making buildings safe The DLUHC statement - issued jointly by the government, Building Safety Regulator, the Local Government Ass...

Following the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Culture and Inclusion Conference on 27 and 28 March 2023 and the spotlight report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) entitled ‘Values and culture in fire and rescue services’, released on 30 March 2023, the NFCC has developed a Culture Action Plan to address culture and inclusion within the fire and rescue sector. NFCC’s fire and rescue services protect the pub...

The UK’s pioneer firefighter for road rescue has welcomed the news that real-time road crash data could soon be made available to the emergency services, helping to speed up collision response times and save lives describing it as a ‘breakthrough.’ In the event of a collision, the TeCall system, which is about to be piloted, will provide detailed information about the vehicles involved to the fire service, police, paramedics, and highway operators, almost instantly. road safe...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has published its new Member Strategy, setting out its ambitions to continuously improve, and to firmly establish NFCC and the UK Fire and Rescue Service as among the best in the world. The Strategy, which has been shaped by extensive engagement and consultation with NFCC members, demonstrates how NFCC will achieve its mission of working with fire and rescue services over the next three years, to achieve safer communities through collaboration, partnershi...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have launched voluntary guidelines for retailers on the sale of disposable barbecues (DBBQs). The guidelines provide retailers with principles to support wildfire risk reduction at both a local and national level. Voluntary guidelines for retailers The guidelines support responsible retailing and outline the steps that retailers can take The guidelines support responsible retailing and outline the steps that reta...

In response to increased reports of fires caused by batteries and electricals containing batteries in the waste and recycling system. Material Focus is strengthening its work to help address this issue. A new public safety film ‘Stop Battery Fires’ created in partnership with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), has been launched and is available for local authorities to share. Material Focus is also calling on local authorities to participate in the 2023 ‘Stop Battery Fi...

A Fire Chief has been presented with a lifetime achievement award for his outstanding work with hazardous materials. Dave Walton, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), received the award at the NCEC Hazmat 2023 conference, when the work he does across the country was highlighted to hundreds of delegates. Dave is a national pioneer in Hazmat (hazardous materials) and is the National Fire Chiefs Council Hazmat Lead. He was also the Project Executive for...

In the last twelve months, the government has moved to strengthen a range of fire safety provisions in building regulations and guidance, including drawing up tougher standards on the use of combustible materials on medium-rise blocks of flats between 11m and 18m high. The changes are being brought about by the Building Etc (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2022 which makes amendments to the Building Regulations 2010 and changes to Approved Document B. Changes Other aspects of the changes inc...

Research which surveyed more than 3,000 UK fire and rescue service (FRS) personnel has found that mental well-being across the service is being impacted by issues such as sleep disruption, occupational stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression. Carried out by Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and commissioned by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and The Fire Fighters Charity, findings also suggest that increased length of career – not related to age - is associated with experiencing...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Positive Practice Portal has been launched at the NFCC Spring Conference 2023, taking place at St George’s Park, on 9 May and 10 May 2023. The Positive Practice Portal will share case studies and examples of positive practice captured by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), enabling fire and rescue services to learn from each other and improve their services for the benefit of the public. NFCC a...

More than 400 items of firefighting kit are traveling from West Yorkshire to Ukraine in a bid to support those battling on the frontline.  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has contributed hundreds of items to the latest convoy, which leaves the UK (May 3rd, 2023). Among the items are 120 fire helmets and over 300 items of structural fire kit, which includes firefighting clothing, to offer as much protection as possible to firefighters in Ukraine. appliances and eq...

The Fire Standards Board (FSB) is delighted to announce the launch of two new Fire Standards - Fire Control and Communications & Engagement. The development of the Fire Control Standard was driven by recent major incident events, such as Grenfell and the Manchester Arena bombing. It addresses the fundamental and strategic role that Fire Control plays from initially receiving the first contact through to the very close of an incident.  FSB launches new Fire Standards This Fi...

Responding to the inspectorate spotlight report on culture in the fire and rescue service, the Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has stated his commitment and determination to work with all fire and rescue services to deliver an open, inclusive, and welcoming culture for all. He is clear that this is his number one priority. Following His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) report into values and culture, NFCC Chair - Mark Harding...

  A renewed call to action to improve culture and end misogyny, racism, bullying, and harassment across UK fire and rescue services underpinned by an action plan has been announced, following the culmination of a two-day National Fire Chiefs Council event on culture and inclusion. culture and inclusion With every UK Fire and Rescue Service represented, there was a unanimous commitment to improving culture and inclusion across fire and rescue services, with the publication of a clear...

RIBA and seven built environment bodies, fire safety organizations and disability rights groups have signed a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP. The united call urges the Government to reduce the height threshold for more than one staircase in new residential buildings to 18 meters (approximately six storeys), from the government’s current proposed 30 meters (approximately ten storeys). new residential buildings Yest...

The National Fire Chief Council’s (NFCC) Community Risk Program (CRP) is developing standardized tools to support UK Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in their community risk management planning. To date, the program has worked with the Fire Standards Board to produce a fire standard for Community Risk Management and has delivered several pieces of guidance and tools that are being utilized by UK fire and rescue services. Independent review of community risk management The tools produced...

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) will be joining fire services across the United Kingdom (UK) to celebrate and recognize the incredible work women across fire and rescue services carry out every day. This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity, promoting a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. NFCC supports fire services to be inclusive The National Fire Chiefs Council want to see more women and people from d...

Broadcaster and safety campaigner - Nick Ross CBE has been announced as the new Independent Chair of Trustees for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). With a long-standing background in public health and community safety, as well as a celebrated career in journalism, including as presenter of the BBC’s Crimewatch program, Nick will take up the role of independent chair for NFCC from April. NFCC - professional voice of UK fire and rescue services The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFC...

Firefighters are backing a national campaign to highlight the everyday accidents that can cause fires in homes across West Yorkshire.  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is urging people to be extra careful on Valentine’s Day and ensure candles are kept away from flammable objects and are never left unattended. Fire Kills campaign In February, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is running its annual Fire Kills campaign to raise awareness of fire safety in the home....

Responding to reports regarding culture in the fire and rescue service, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has reiterated that the behaviors outlined are wholly unacceptable, making it clear there is no place for harassment, bullying or discrimination in any workplace. NFCC is committed to working with all fire and rescue services to support open and inclusive workplace cultures. NFCC supports an open and inclusive workplace culture I am appalled by the recent reports into behaviors and...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has announced that teams from UK fire and rescue services have been deployed to the Republic of Türkiye, in order to assist with search and rescue operations, following the devastating earthquakes. The 77-strong International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) team is made up of firefighters and staff from 14 fire and rescue services. It has deployed through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. International Search and Rescue team deployed to Türkiye...

The legal requirements mean that those responsible for high-rise buildings need to provide information on their building to the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS). This can be done via the WYFRS website and should include details of the external walls, buildings and floor plans and information on known faults with key firefighting equipment. Fire Safety Regulations 2022 Coming into force on January 23rd, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, will implement the majority of re...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is supporting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, following five firefighters being taken to hospital, one who is in a critical condition. 22 fire appliances attended the fire at a former department store in Edinburgh, Scotland. A total of 11 fire engines and specialist equipment remain at the scene. Firefighters injured in store fire It is always devastating when firefighters are injured attending incidents" The Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Cou...

The Fire Standards Board (FSB) is delighted to announce the launch of its Leadership and People Fire Standards: Leading the Service and Leading and Developing People.  Both Fire Standards have been developed to support services in strengthening professionalism and leadership at all levels of their organization, encouraging more positive working environments for the benefit of their people and the community they serve.  Leading the Service Fire Standard The Leading the Service Fire S...

The new Fire Safety (England) Regulations will take effect from January 23, 2023. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) welcomed the introduction of the new Regulations, which make it a requirement for responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings to provide information on their building/s to their local fire and rescue service. A high-rise residential building is defined as a building containing two or more sets of domestic premises and is at least 18 meters tall or has at least sev...

The Academic Collaboration, Evaluation and Research Group (ACER) is an independent forum, convened by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), to help coordinate and maximize the benefits of academic research with relevance for fire and rescue services (FRS), to contribute to improved public and firefighter safety.  It is chaired by Rowena Hill from Nottingham Trent University and Vice Chaired by Justin Johnston from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (Lancashire FRS). ACER ACER will pro...

Following the publication of the annual State of Fire report, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has responded to its findings. Published by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), it looks at the fire and rescue service’s effectiveness, efficiency and how they focus on their staff. In the report, HMICFRS’ Chief Inspector - Andy Cooke said: “I am continually struck by the dedication of firefighters and other staff, and I...

Attacks on firefighters are at their highest since records began – and the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) saw the worst attacks it has ever seen over the weekend. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) wants to see stronger sentences handed down by the courts – where restorative justice has not worked. According to the latest Home Office figures, almost one thousand firefighters were attacked while attending incidents. Rise in number of attacks on firefighters To s...

The development of the Fire Control Fire Standard has been coordinated by National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) in conjunction with the NFCC Mobilising Officers Group. This further Fire Standard accompanies the twelve Fire Standards already published.  Fire Control Fire Standard The following NFCC National Operational Guidance underpins the Fire Control Fire Standard: Fire control National Operational Guidance: Survival guidance. Fire control National Operational Guidance: Fire cont...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has released a statement calling on the Government to make it a requirement for all new high-rise residential buildings over 18 meters or seven stories to have more than one staircase. In England, there is currently no maximum height for residential buildings with only one staircase. Changes in high-rise buildings NFCC is urging the Government to adopt the following changes for high-rise residential buildings over 18 meters or seven storeys: All...