Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s purpose is to make Lancashire safer. The ways we do that have evolved, as risks to public safety have changed.
Preventing fires from happening, protecting people and property when they do and responding quickly and competently remain core services.
However, we now serve our communities in many more situations: from weather-related emergencies to searching for vulnerable missing people, we have adapted to keep people safe in other aspects of their lives.
Our people are central to all that we achieve. They have the essential qualities to respond positively to challenges, support others and make a difference in their communities.
During the Covid-19 pandemic we have been able to use our skills and experience to protect people in completely new ways, working alongside our partners to deliver crucial public services.
An ambition to be outstanding in all that we do drives continuous improvement across the Service, and this year our priorities are to strengthen community safety in respect of the emerging risks affecting Lancashire.
We intend to do that by continuing to build a highly skilled, resilient and agile fire and rescue service, that can adapt and respond flexibly to the needs of our communities.
Innovation and investment are at the core of our plans, with a firm focus on digital innovation to ensure we remain at the forefront of effective and efficient fire and rescue services.
We have been able to set a balanced budget for 2022-23 that allows for investment in people, equipment, training facilities and accommodation. Over 80 new firefighter recruits will join the Service during the year and we will strengthen capacity and resilience in support services, which is vital to deliver further efficiencies.
Climate change is having significant impact on homes, businesses and environments in Lancashire, and the risk of flooding and wildfires is increasing. Every firefighter in the service has a bespoke flood suit and this year, we’ll add specialist personal protection equipment for fighting wildfires to their kit.
We are also investing in new all-terrain vehicles, enhancing our capabilities for travelling over moorland and similar terrain, as we commit further to understanding and mitigating climate change emergencies in the county.
Extensive reform to fire safety and building control standards is underway to make buildings safer for occupants following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. We are transforming our fire protection services to deliver these changes expertly and support local businesses to comply with legislation and reduce the risk of fire in their premises.
This year we will seek your views in a review of emergency cover to ensure that our fire engines are situated and staffed in ways that provide the best response to risks and emergencies in Lancashire.
“We aspire to be outstanding in all that we do by being the best trained, best equipped, best accommodated and most professional fire and rescue service in the country.”
Justin Johnston, Chief Fire Officer