Strategic goal 3

This goal is focused on ensuring that we are ready to respond effectively and safely to incidents when they happen.

Over the last three years, we have made a considerable investment in our response capabilities, which has culminated in the replacement of over half our fleet of front-line fire appliances, the introduction of several new specialist vehicles, the replacement and introduction of new operational equipment, and the issue of new uniforms for operational crews and other colleagues.

We have also completed work to modernise our on-call fire stations and improve our approach to the decontamination of equipment across the estate. This investment will continue next year as building work gets underway on a new fire station to replace Stockhill, alongside upgrades to facilities at several of our older stations.

We will maintain our commitment to reaching all incidents within 8 minutes on average, from the time the first appliance is mobilised, though a continued focus on ensuring the fitness and competence of crews and the availability of our fire appliances. Following a review of our technical rescue delivery model, we will be taking forward recommendations to reconfigure our technical rescue capabilities to more effectively align our resources to the risks in our communities.

Our focus for improvement will be on the implementation of new systems and ways of working, involving several strategically important projects.

During 2026-27, we aim to achieve the following:

• Complete the implementation of a new mobilising system, in collaboration with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
• Begin implementing the changes to our technical rescue delivery model, based on the findings of the review undertaken during 2025-26
• Work with the Home Office and regional partners to prepare for the implementation of a new Emergency Services Network for radio communications
• Procure a new set of fire appliances, to replace aging vehicles in the fleet
• Receive into Service a refurbished Aerial Ladder Platform and a new welfare unit
• Implement the new Home Office system for incident recording
• Undertake a review of response standards