Local Authority Fire Service
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In the United Kingdom a Local Authority Fire and Rescue Service or Public Fire and Rescue Service is a Fire and Rescue Service provided by a local county or metropolitan council as a local government department.
In England and Wales by virtue of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 a County or Metropolitan council must provide a Fire and Rescue Service to serve the public in an emergency.
In very simple terms the Public Fire Service is the fire service which responds to 999 calls from members of the public
Whilst fire services are operated at local authority level national policy guidlines and performance is monitored and controlled by the Department of Communities and Local Government(DCLG)
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[edit] Statutory Duties
A Local Authority or Public Fire and Rescue Service not only has statutory duties to respond to emergencies, but also has additional responsibilities to enforce fire safety legislation and to reduce the number of fires, and fire related deaths through education and pro-active safety campaigns.
[edit] Powers in an Emergency
Like any of the other three main emergency services (Police, Ambulance and HM Coastguard) LA / PS Fire Service personnel are given substantial powers of entry (and other legal power) to carry out their functions.
They are legally obliged to respond to any form of fire related emergency and any other emergency which presents a risk to life or property when called upon to do so.
They also have a responsibility to provide certain services in the event of terrorist attack.
Except in all but a few circumstances there is no occasion where a public fire service can not legally gain entry to premises or property to fight fire or protect life. Obstructing a firefighter or fire officer from carrying out their duties is a criminal offence.
[edit] Fire Authority
A county or metropolitan fire service is known as a Fire Authority (the Term Fire and Rescue Authority now become popular) In crude terms a fire authority is a committee of ocuncil officials which overseas the running of the fire service, to ensure that it does it's job properly and to decide on new policies.
However day to day command and control of the Fire Service is overseen by a Cheif Fire Officer the highest ranking officer in the service
[edit] Non Local Authority / Public Fire & Rescue Services
There are several non local authority / public Fire and Rescue Services in the UK. They are generally not directly controlled by either local or national government bodies.
- Airport Fire and Rescue Services (Controlled by individual Airports under Civil Avaiation Authority Regulations)
- Industrial Fire Services - protect large factories or industrial complexes (controlled by Organisations to which they serve)
- Private Fire Cover Specialists - A number of outdoor concerts and events are covered by small private fire services who are contracted to provide cover at various events. Generally such services are provided by off duty public service firefighters.
[edit] Ministry of Defence Fire and Rescue Services
- Defence Fire and Rescue Service - Civillian Fire Service which Protects all Ministry of Defence Premises -
It is Controlled by the Ministry of Defence and is therefore a fire service controlled ultimately by the UK Government along with their Local Authority Fire Service counterparts.
The Defence Fire and Rescue Service is covered by the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 and therefore has the same powers of entry and enforcement as a Local Authority Fire Service.
- Royal Air Force Firefighting and Rescue Service - Also controlled by the MoD through the Royal AIr Force the RAFFRS cover mainly RAF sites with runways to provide specialst aircraft firefighting and rescue capability.
In most cases non LA or Public fire services will call upon the public fire service for assistance.
[edit] Primary Firefighting and Rescue Service in the UK
Each Local Authority / Public Fire Service collectively form the primary firefighting and rescue agency in the United Kingdom.
They are also the primary land rescue service by virtue of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
More recently firefighters will now fight fires off shore in collaboration with HM Coastguard
