Progress report September 2026: fire and rescue services
Published 10 September 2026
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Recommendations 29 and 30
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 113.51 | In progress | Government | In principle |
| 30 | 113.53 | In progress | Government | In principle |
Recommendations
29: That the government establish [an independent College of Fire and Rescue] immediately with sufficient resources to provide the following services nationally:
- practical training at all levels supplementary to that provided by individual fire and rescue services
- education in the form of lectures and seminars on different aspects of the work of the fire and rescue services in order to share experience and promote good practice
- research into matters that may affect the work of the fire and rescue services, including major fires
- the development of equipment, policies and procedures suitable for ensuring the effectiveness of fire and rescue services nationally and the safety of firefighters and the public
- setting and maintaining national standards of managerial competence for senior managers, including control room managers, and providing management training for, and regular assessment of, senior ranks by reference to such standards
30: That [the college] should have a permanent staff of sufficient size to manage its operations and develop its functions in response to the demands of fire and rescue services nationally and the requirements of the board. The college will need access to permanent facilities, including facilities for practical training and education. We envisage that much of the training and education will be delivered and led by firefighters of suitable experience drawn as the occasion requires from fire and rescue services around the country.
What we committed to doing
We recognise the importance of making sure that fire and rescue services are appropriately trained and that high standards are maintained. The creation of a college was also recommended in His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services’ (HMICFRS) 2023 spotlight report on values and culture in fire and rescue services as a means of tackling challenges in these areas.
Establishing a college will require primary legislation and consultation is the necessary first step. From summer 2025, we will consult on the most appropriate functions for the college to fulfil and how it could best be structured and delivered, including consideration of all the functions recommended by the Inquiry. Engaging with and hearing from a wide range of people and organisations will strengthen our proposals.
An early priority will be to agree with sector partners the real-world outcomes that a successful college would deliver, to inform all further work.
These recommendations will be complete when
A solution is set up to deliver the aims, functions and outcomes identified through the upcoming consultation on a college of fire and rescue. It will aim to deliver these functions to organisations across the fire and rescue sector.
What we have done
The public consultation on the College of Fire and Rescue went live on 20 May 2026 and closed on 15 July 2026. During this time, we engaged with a number of key stakeholders, including chief fire officers across the UK, the chairs of the fire authorities and colleagues in the devolved administrations, to discuss key points relating to the college’s aims, scope and design.
With the consultation now concluded, the work will now focus primarily on analysis of the responses, policy development to inform the government’s formal response to the consultation and plans for implementation.
Responsible department
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Responsible person
Peter Lee, Director, Fire Policy
Recommendations 31, 32 and 33
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 113.55 | Complete | HMICFRS | In full |
| 32 | 113.56 | Complete | HMICFRS | In full |
| 33 | 113.57 | Complete | HMICFRS | In full |
Recommendations
31: That His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (the inspectorate) inspect the London Fire Brigade as soon as reasonably possible to assess and report on:
- the extent to which the control room is now integrated into the organisation
- the effectiveness of the arrangements for identifying the training needs of control room staff, delivering effective training and recording its outcomes
- the effectiveness of the control room generally
- the ability of the control room to handle a large number of concurrent requests for advice and assistance from people directly affected by fires or other emergencies
- the quality and effectiveness of the arrangements for communication between the control room and the incident commander.
32: That as soon as reasonably possible the Inspectorate inspect the London Fire Brigade to examine and report on the arrangements it has in place for assessing the training of incident commanders at all levels and their continuing competence, whether by a process of revalidation or otherwise.
33: That as soon as reasonably practicable the Inspectorate inspect the LFB to examine and report on its arrangements for collecting, storing and distributing information in accordance with section 7(2)(d) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, and in particular its arrangements for identifying high-risk residential buildings and collecting, storing and distributing information relating to them.
What we committed to doing
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) most recently inspected London Fire Brigade in February 2024 on their effectiveness, efficiency and people management. The findings were published in November 2024.
Overall, HMICFRS found that London Fire Brigade had made significant improvements in their performance since their previous inspection in January 2022. London Fire Brigade has improved its understanding of risk, continues to respond quickly to fires and is seen as outstanding in responding to major and multi-agency incidents.
These recommendations will be complete when
31: All relevant parties – the inspectorate, MHCLG officials and ministers - have considered evidence related to this recommendation and are satisfied that the recommendation has been fully met.
32: All relevant parties – the inspectorate, MHCLG officials and ministers - have considered evidence related to this recommendation and are satisfied that the recommendation has been fully met.
33: Ministers have considered evidence related to this recommendation and are satisfied that the recommendation has been fully met.
What we have done
These recommendations are complete and have been fully discharged.
Recommendation 34
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 113.58 | Complete | London Fire Brigade (LFB) | In full |
Recommendation
That the London Fire Brigade establish effective standing arrangements for collecting, considering and effectively implementing lessons learned from previous incidents, inquests and investigations. Those arrangements should be as simple as possible, flexible and of a kind that will ensure that any appropriate changes in practice or procedure are implemented speedily.
What we committed to doing
London Fire Brigade is committed to ensuring lessons from incidents are learned from and good practice is shared across the organisation and with key agencies.
This recommendation will be complete when
It is aligned to the adoption and assurance of LFB’s updated Operational Learning Policy.
What we have done
A new Operational Learning Policy, aligned to the National Fire Chiefs Council Good Practice Guide has been developed, and was published in December 2025. The policy provides effective arrangements for collecting, considering and implementing lessons learned from previous incidents (local, national and international), inquests and investigations. The revised arrangements present an agile approach to learning including key performance indicators for the early and timely distribution of risk critical learning and the completion of formal structured debriefing.
LFB commissioned an independent peer review by Kent Fire and Rescue Service to assure that the revised LFB Operational Learning process aligns with the Operational Learning Fire Standards criteria to address this recommendation. The review concluded a ‘substantial’ assurance outcome to meeting the criteria contained within the Operational Learning Fire Standard, with 8 criteria receiving a ‘substantial’ assurance rating and one receiving a ‘reasonable assurance’ rating.
This recommendation is now complete and has been fully discharged.
Recommendations 35 and 36
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 113.59 | In progress | Fire and rescue services (FRS) | In full |
| 36 | 113.60 | In progress | Fire and rescue services (FRS) | In full |
Recommendation
35: That fire and rescue services that continue to use low power intrinsically safe radios as part of breathing apparatus consider reserving them only for situations in which there is a real risk of igniting flammable gases and generally using radios of higher power, particularly in high-rise buildings.
36: That all fire and rescue services give consideration to providing all firefighters with digital radios.
What we committed to doing
The NFCC is surveying fire and rescue services to understand what arrangements are currently in place at a local level and what national support could be put in place to support services to meet this recommendation.
The NFCC will produce a delivery plan by the end of April 2025 to set out what actions it will take as a result.
These recommendations will be complete when
The NFCC has engaged with fire and rescue services regarding their radio provision, and supplemented this understanding with learning cases and feedback on radio performance in operational environments.
What we have done
Since the May 2026 report, 2 more workshops have been delivered. Demand for the workshops is slowing down, which was expected at this point in time. In the past 18 months, 48 Operational Guidance Surgeries (workshops) have been delivered to services; 20 of these were specifically related to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations but all of them would have addressed the recommendations and outcomes with NFCC supporting the delivery of progress within services. We are still expecting that all services requiring this support will have received it by the end of December 2026.
Recommendation 37
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 113.61 | Complete | Fire and rescue services (FRS) | In full |
Recommendation
Since radio communications are inherently unreliable in certain environments, we recommend that firefighters be trained to respond appropriately to the loss of communications and to understand how to restore them.
What we committed to doing
The NFCC has reviewed the content of national operational guidance and is surveying fire and rescue services to establish what additional measures could be provided to support awareness and training on how to respond to a loss of communications.
The NFCC will produce a delivery plan by the end of April 2025 to set out what actions it will take as a result.
This recommendation will be complete when
Operational guidance concerning radios and mitigating loss of communications is updated and published, and appropriate training materials and support are provided on FRS Learn and via the NFCC Implementation team.
What we have done
As mentioned in the May 2026 report, publication of the amended guidance was slightly delayed due to the timing of NFCC governance meetings. Approval was given on 17 July 2026 and the guidance has since been published. Supplementary training materials in the form of ‘micro-learns’ have been developed and are currently undergoing review by a subject matter expert. Approval was given at the Guidance and Scrutiny Panel held on 1 September 2026 with subsequent publication expected imminently.
In addition, 2 more GTI2 related workshops have been delivered to services. Demand for the workshops is slowing down, which was expected at this point in time. In the past 18 months, 48 Operational Guidance Surgeries (workshops) have been delivered to services; 20 of these were specifically related to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations, but all of them would have addressed the recommendations and outcomes with NFCC supporting the delivery of progress within services. We are still expecting that all services requiring this support will have received it by the end of December 2026.
This recommendation is now complete and has been fully discharged.
Recommendation 38
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 113.62 | Complete | Fire and rescue services (FRS) | In full |
Recommendation
That basic training on the structure and operation of the water supply system, including the different types of hydrants in use and their functions, be given to all firefighters. Training should also be given on effective measures to increase water flow and pressure when necessary.
What we committed to doing
The NFCC has reviewed the national operational guidance and is surveying fire and rescue services to establish what additional measures could be provided to support awareness and training on the water supply system.
The NFCC will produce a delivery plan by the end of April 2025 to set out what actions it will take as a result.
This recommendation will be complete when
Operational guidance concerning the water supply system, hydrant use, and increasing water flow and pressure is updated and published, and appropriate training materials are provided on FRS Learn.
What we have done
Since the May 2026 report, work has continued on the development of a series of ‘micro-learn’ content. Development of the content has taken longer than expected due to the complexity of flow rate calculations, lack of adequate existing training packages within services and the lack of a competency framework to align to. Final revisions are now being reviewed by subject matter advisors. Approval was given at the Guidance and Scrutiny Panel held on 1 September 2026 with subsequent publication expected imminently.
This recommendation is now complete and has been fully discharged.
Recommendation 39
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 113.63 | Complete | Fire and rescue services (FRS) | In full |
Recommendation
That all fire and rescue services establish and periodically review an agreed protocol with the statutory water undertakers in their areas to enable effective communication between them in relation to the supply of water for firefighting purposes.
What we committed to doing
The NFCC and fire service lead officers for water are discussing with water undertakers how to strengthen existing arrangements and with Ofwat to identify potential improvements to the interactions between services and water undertakers.
The NFCC will produce a delivery plan by the end of April 2025 to set out what actions it will take as a result.
This recommendation will be complete when
A template outlining the standard elements to be included in protocols between water undertakers and Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) is incorporated into industry guidance; once agreement is reached on whether future guidance should be jointly badged by the NFCC; and following further engagement with Ofwat (or its successor) to continue raising awareness of the challenges faced by FRSs and to support positive change.
What we have done
This recommendation is now complete and has been fully discharged.
Recommendation 40
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 113.64 | Complete | British Standards Institution (BSI) | In full |
Recommendation
That the British Standards Institution amend BS 750 to include a description of the circumstances under which the flow coefficient to which it refers in paragraph 10.2 is to be measured.
What we committed to doing
It will amend BS 750 accordingly and expect to publish the revised standard, following the usual standards development process and a period of public consultation, towards the end of 2025.
This recommendation will be complete when
The amendment is published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the requirements can be implemented in the marketplace. This will happen once the proposed amendments have been drafted, and the text has been through the public consultation stages as required, likely around the end of 2025.
What we have done
The draft text of the amendment was issued for public consultation on 13 February and the consultation period closed on 13 April. The drafting panel then reviewed and addressed all comments received. The final text was approved by the responsible technical committee (FSH/17 Fire and rescue service equipment) and the amendment was published on 11 August. The updated text includes the description of the circumstances under which the flow coefficient to which it refers in paragraph 10.2 is to be measured recommended by the Inquiry report as well as some other changes identified during the amendment process.
This recommendation is now complete and has been fully discharged.
Recommendation 41
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 113.65 | Complete | National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) | In full |
Recommendation
That National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) consider whether, and if so in what circumstances, firefighters should be discouraged from departing from their instructions on their own initiative and provide appropriate training in how to respond to a situation of that kind.
What we committed to doing
Firefighters operate in an extremely high-risk and dynamic environment where responding to changes is essential to safe working practice. The ability to communicate changes in the operating environment, in real time, and the need to deviate from objectives at times, is essential.
The NFCC has reviewed existing relevant guidance on the briefing and debriefing of crews and is surveying fire and rescue services to determine what additional measures might support awareness and training in this area.
The NFCC will produce a delivery plan by the end of April 2025 to set out what actions it will take as a result.
This recommendation will be complete when
Operational guidance relating to decision-making for non-commanders has been reviewed, updated if necessary, and published, and learning materials to support firefighters to achieve operational objectives have been developed and shared with fire and rescue services, and provided on FRS Learn.
What we have done
Since the May 2026 report, the updated guidance has been approved and published. Supporting training materials in the form of ‘micro-learn’ have been developed and user testing has been completed. Approval was given at the Guidance and Scrutiny Panel held on 1 September 2026 with subsequent publication expected imminently.
This recommendation is now complete and has been fully discharged.