Review Emergency Cover Incorporating Replacement Of The Day Crewing Plus Duty System
We undertook an emergency cover review to ensure that our emergency response remains effective and efficient, and that we are well equipped to respond to future challenges.
Public consultation took place from July to October 2022 and Lancashire’s Combined Fire Authority agreed the proposed changes in December.
The changes identified reflect the most effective and efficient use of resources for the whole of Lancashire and:
Maintain all 39 fire stations and 58 fire appliances.
Maintain our outstanding response standards.
Create an increase in firefighter jobs of eight.
Review Special Fire Appliances And Resource Provision
A review of special fire appliances, such as aerial ladder platforms, swift water rescue units, and hazardous materials and environmental protection units, was carried out to ensure they are located and crewed in line with community risks.
Most changes will be implemented as part of the emergency cover review implementation in 2023-24. However the number of bariatric response units has increased from six to 10, development of a small command support unit has begun, and a 4×4 wildfire unit has moved to Bacup to complement the specialist wildfire capability there and nearby at Rawtenstall.
Implement Operational Learning In Response To National Events
Recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry were implemented including the development of an evacuation policy, delivery of training, and the introduction of new equipment such as smoke hoods and curtains. We also completed thematic assurance for these items and will continue to develop our people through training and exercising.
Recommendations from the Manchester Arena Inquiry were analysed and actions identified. We
introduced new trauma equipment and training, which enhances our capability when responding to incidents with serious trauma, and remaining actions will be progressed in 2023-24.
Invest In Our Fleet
Procurement of a 45-metre aerial ladder platform (ALP), the greatest ALP capability currently available in the UK, began. The Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain problems delayed this work however it is expected to be in service in 2023.
Procurement of two more water towers, fire engines with added capability to deliver large volumes of water from height and pierce building exteriors to extinguish fires within compartments, was completed. The appliances are expected to be in service during 2023-24.
Building of new incident command units continued with the first expected to be completed in 2023. These vehicles will replace existing units and lead to more effective large-scale incident management. New incident command software has also progressed and is being tested.
As part of our vehicle replacement plan, 13 new fire engines are being built with delivery expected to start in 2023-24.
Respond To The Impacts Of Climate Change
The Service procured new wildfire personal protective equipment for all our firefighters, plus additional equipment for specialist wildfire units. Rollout began and was completed in June 2023.
Two new Hagglund vehicles were added to our fleet to strengthen our response to wildfires and flooding. The all-terrain vehicles are rubber tracked off-road appliances which will enhance our existing wildfire and flood rescue response capability in remote areas of the county.
A working group of firefighters explored the use of climate change response vehicles to further strengthen our capabilities, and consulted on proposals to trial two bespoke all-wheel-drive fire appliances to give better access to rural areas. The group is now progressing vehicle specifications for trials.
This investment is part of our work to respond to the impacts of climate change through our climate change operational response plan.
Four fully electric cars were introduced for use by fire safety teams. The Service is reducing its diesel-powered support vehicles, replacing these with self-charging and plug-in hybrid technology, and exploring the wider rollout of electric vehicle charging units at strategic locations across the county.
Optimise Emergency Cover Through Improved Data Including Dynamic Cover Software
We have introduced dynamic cover software that enables us to deploy resources more effectively and efficiently across Lancashire. Currently in use during significant incidents, it provides visual data on community risks and emergency cover in real-time. This means we can position firefighters and appliances with greater precision to improve emergency cover and response times during periods of high demand.
Lancashire Firefighters Deployed To Global Humanitarian Disasters
After devastating earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria on 6 February 2022, six firefighters from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service were deployed to Turkey to assist in search and rescue efforts.
The earthquakes led to the deployment of the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) team. UKISAR responds to humanitarian accidents and disasters worldwide and the team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Watch Manager Wayne Ward, Crew Manager Jim Davison, Crew Manager Chris Jowett and Firefighter Adam Varey responded, along with search dogs Davey and Sid, and their handlers Crew Manager Lindsay Sielski and Firefighter Jon Hardman.
“For every area where we had intelligence that there may be someone alive in there Davey would
be up, he would use his nose and he would be able to sniff through cracks in the rubble to let us know if there was anyone alive in a building or a collapsed structure.”
– Crew Manager Lindsay Sielski, UK International Search and Rescue Team K9 Lead
The team spent 10 days working on searches, which could last up to 18 hours, and rescued eight people. The dogs found a further three who were then rescued by local teams.
In March, Crew Manager Jim Davison was deployed to Malawi following Cyclone Freddy, which caused landslides and flooding. He was part of a team that supported Malawian authorities in the search for survivors and providing shelter and water to thousands of people affected.