Last updated: 09/07/2018, 6:17 PM

Brigade’s four year vision approved

30/03/2017 00:00
London-wide
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Our four year vision to make the capital the world's safest global city has been approved today by London's fire authority following a public consultation.

The final draft of the London Safety Plan will see an increase in terrorism response capabilities, expand the role of firefighters and place fire stations at the heart of the community.

Kingston's fire engine move on hold

A change to the original proposals is that Kingston's fire engine move to New Malden has been put on hold.

Second fire engine attendance performance in Kingston has come into the eight minute average target for the first time and that alongside local concerns means the move will be reviewed in year's time using the Brigade's detailed modelling data.

Nearly 2,000 people completed the consultation, which ran for eight weeks and included seven drop in sessions across London.

Greater transparency

There are no proposals in the Plan to reduce the number of firefighters, fire stations or fire engines.

The Brigade continues to meet our London-wide average attendance time targets of getting the first fire engine to an incident in six minutes and the second in eight minutes.

An additional target of getting a fire engine within 10 minutes to any incident anywhere in London, 90 per cent of the time will come into force. Following comments made during the consultation, and in order to bring greater transparency, the current standard of 12 minutes on 95 per cent of occasions will also remain.

Increase terrorism response

The attacks in Paris in December 2015 brought the emergency services' capability to respond to a marauding terrorist firearms attack (MTFA) into sharp focus.

The Mayor commissioned an independent review into London's terror preparedness, led by Lord Toby Harris, and a review of the Brigade's resources led by Anthony Mayer.

The Plan echoes the recommendations of Lord Harris, setting out intentions to boost the number of specialist firefighters trained to move in behind the police to fight fires and help treat casualties in a terrorist incident.

It also includes:

  • Work to improve diversity and community relations across London. The Brigade wants to throw open the 'big red doors' of their fire stations, allowing the community to engage more with firefighters and freeing up facilities for community use. As well as placing stations at the heart of the community, the Brigade wants to make sure their staff experience an inclusive culture in the workplace.

  • Evaluation of the role of Fire Rescue Units (FRUs) and the potential to give them attendance time targets.

  • Greater collaboration with emergency service colleagues and partners.