Introduction

Lancashire Combined Fire Authority delivers a fire and rescue service to the whole of Lancashire, raising awareness about fire safety through visiting homes and schools, enforcing fire safety laws; being available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond to emergencies.

The net budget for 2026/27 is £80.5m, an increase of £3m compared to last year’s budget of £77.5m. This increase was largely the result of pay awards and inflationary pressures.

What does the Fire and Rescue Service cost?

Based on the forecast population of Lancashire, circa 1.5 million, we cost just 15 pence per day.

Summary

2026/27 (£m)

2025/26

(£m)

​Gross Revenue Expenditure

83.3

81.4

​Less Income

(3.8)

(4.0)

​Less grant in respect of increased firefighters pension costs

(2.5)

(2.5)

​Contribution to Capital

3.4

2.6m

​Net Budget Requirement

80.5

77.5m

​Less Central Government Grants

(20.0)

(13.7)

​Less Local Share of Business Rates inc top up grant

(15.4)

(21.6)

​Deficit/(Surplus) on Council Tax and Business Rates Collection fund

0

(1)

​Council tax requirement

45.1

42.3

 Council tax income

Summary

2026/267

​Council tax base

475,713

​Band D Council Tax equivalent

​£94.73

How does the budget compare with last year?

The Fire Authority net budget requirement for 2026/27 is £80.5 million compared with a budget of £77.5 million last year. The reason for the overall budget are as follows:

​Change in spending between years

​£ million

​Budget requirement 2025/26

​77.5

​Add pay awards and other inflationary pressures

4.5

Less other adjustments

​(1.5)

​Budget requirement for 2026/27

​80.5

Council Tax has increased by £5.00 (less than £0.10 per week) which means that for a Band D property the amount payable for the Fire and Rescue part of the bill is £94.73 per year.

What do you get for your money?

  • 39 fire stations

  • 58 fire engines

  • 45 specialist vehicles

  • 1,121 staff

  • 999 calls answered

  • Attendance at 5,342 fires

  • Attendance at 667 road traffic collisions

  • Attendance at 4,020 other emergencies including animal rescue, flooding, collapsed structures, gaining entry and water rescue

  • Fire safety inspections

  • Prosecutions under fire safety law

  • 23,192 Home Fire Safety Checks

  • Visits to all school year 2 and year 6 classes

  • Road safety education packages

More information

For a hard copy of this information, please contacts us:

Email: enquiries@lancsfirerescue.org.uk

Post:

The Chief Fire Officer
Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service
Headquarters
Garstang Road
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 3LH