HMICFRS letters reveal what changed inside two fire services this year

Overview of two unrelated HMICFRS letters

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has issued two separate revisit letters in England, setting out distinct findings for Avon Fire and Rescue Service and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.

According to HMICFRS, the Avon letter dated 5 September 2025 covers progress on causes of concern first raised in the 2023 inspection cycle, while the Northamptonshire letter dated 4 September 2025 confirms closure of a cause of concern from the 2023–25 inspection cycle.

It said each letter follows earlier action plans, governance updates and revisits that were carried out in 2024 and 2025.

HMICFRS added that the two sets of findings sit within its ongoing national inspection programme.

Avon FRS revisit letter: scope, history and governance

HMICFRS reported that its 2023 inspection identified an accelerated cause of concern in Avon’s risk information process, alongside issues later raised on prevention, mobilisation, and values and culture.

It explained that mobilisation was closed as a cause of concern after a September 2024 revisit, and that the July 2025 revisit focused on risk information and prevention.

The inspectorate said it interviewed senior leaders, managers and staff between 7 and 10 July 2025, shared initial findings on 16 July 2025, and issued the letter on 5 September 2025.

HMICFRS noted that Avon has put in place governance arrangements that include regular meetings with lead officers, reporting to the fire and rescue authority, and a service improvement board.

It said the causes of concern have been added to the corporate risk register, and that a new chief fire officer was appointed in May 2025 with proposals to strengthen oversight.

Avon action plan and changes to risk information

HMICFRS stated that Avon has simplified its action plan, set accountable senior responsible owners, and recorded deadlines and positions for each recommendation.

It reported that training on site specific risk information is now provided to wholetime firefighters and wider staff through a one day face to face package with a practical element.

The inspectorate added that quality assurance checks have been established at supervisory, station manager and SSRI team levels, and that review activity has identified and corrected weak entries.

It said Avon has identified most premises requiring SSRI, with 685 premises holding an up to date SSRI record, and a further 551 premises identified for visits.

HMICFRS reported that risk information uploads to mobile data terminals now follow timeliness targets, with aims of four weeks post visit and a further eight hours after quality assurance.

It explained that evacuation strategies for all high rise buildings in the area are now available to fire control, and that this supports advice to occupants during incidents.

The inspectorate said Avon has an internal process to manage temporary risks and vulnerable people, and that data cleaning to remove older records is under way with an aim to complete by 31 October 2025.

HMICFRS confirmed that the accelerated cause of concern on risk information has been closed.

Avon prevention work, training and remaining recommendations

HMICFRS stated that Avon has a prevention strategy linked to the service plan for 2024 to 2028, a risk stratification process for home fire safety visits, and oversight through key performance indicators.

It reported that the backlog of home fire safety visits has been cleared, and that quality assurance now covers specialist prevention officers and station watches.

The inspectorate said a two day face to face prevention training package is in place, that 87 percent of wholetime firefighters have received training, and that about 67 percent of on call firefighters have received similar training.

It added that Avon has upgraded prevention IT, including a dashboard to manage visits and tools to record post fire activity and hot strikes.

HMICFRS noted that many home fire safety visit records completed by wholetime firefighters lacked detail on advice given, and that record completion needed closer attention.

It stated that resources in prevention remain under review, that a business case to increase prevention staffing was not approved, and that the new chief fire officer has requested the business case be reopened.

The inspectorate said prevention remains a cause of concern, with the open recommendation covering prevention capacity and the potential for wholetime firefighters to contribute more activity.

Northamptonshire FRS revisit letter: scope, governance and strategy

HMICFRS reported that the Northamptonshire letter confirms closure of a cause of concern on equality, diversity and inclusion that was raised in the 2023–25 inspection cycle.

It explained that the service submitted an action plan on 31 July 2024, and that inspectors carried out a revisit in June 2025 and shared initial findings on 15 July 2025.

The inspectorate said governance includes a people and culture board chaired by the chief fire officer and updates to an accountability board chaired by the police, fire and crime commissioner.

It added that the action plan identifies senior responsible officers, deadlines and progress updates, and that the service’s EDI strategy for 2024 to 2027 will inform the next community risk management plan.

HMICFRS stated that the service has continued improvements while acknowledging further work is needed.

Northamptonshire EDI progress, data and reporting routes

HMICFRS reported that Northamptonshire has developed six EDI objectives with phased outcomes and delivered mandatory and targeted training.

It said staff networks have been established, and that communications show leadership commitment, although some staff described communication as top down.

The inspectorate added that a revised equality and well being impact assessment process is required for all new or revised policies and projects, with quality assurance in place, but with some assessments needing fuller evidence.

It reported that a new HR system has improved demographic data collection and reporting, that disclosure rates have improved, and that representation and engagement of staff from ethnic minority backgrounds remain low.

HMICFRS stated that training on challenging behaviour, independent reporting routes such as Flag It and Speak Up, and an independent external investigation function are now in place.

It added that staff confidence in raising concerns has increased and that cases are being handled through a brigade investigation officer independent of operational teams, while welfare support during investigations could be strengthened.

Northamptonshire positive action work and area for improvement

HMICFRS said Northamptonshire has a positive action strategy and appointed leads, but implementation and evaluation have been limited.

It reported that understanding of positive action varies among staff, that Have a Go days are not consistently monitored, and that equipment and coordination concerns were raised by some staff.

The inspectorate added that the service lacks learning logs and structured feedback on positive action initiatives, and that the absence of a completed firefighter recruitment round limits outcome assessment.

It stated that community engagement events continue and that they show a long term commitment to improving representation.

HMICFRS confirmed closure of the cause of concern and issued an area for improvement on monitoring and evaluating EDI objectives, including understanding the effect of positive action on staff.

It said further development of evaluation and staff understanding is expected.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

These HMICFRS letters show how inspection recommendations translate into action plans, governance and measurable outputs in two English services.

They set out methods that other services can examine, including quality assurance tiers for risk information, upload timetables, evacuation strategy availability, and the use of stratified prevention models.

They also outline EDI governance steps that services can reference, including objective setting, impact assessment processes, independent reporting routes and data collection through HR systems.

The letters map where progress is recorded, where checks are improving practice, and where capacity, record detail and evaluation remain priorities.

HMICFRS revisit findings for Avon and Northamptonshire fire services: Summary

HMICFRS issued a letter to Avon Fire and Rescue Service on 5 September 2025.

The letter followed a revisit between 7 and 10 July 2025.

HMICFRS closed the accelerated cause of concern on risk information.

Avon identified 685 premises with up to date SSRI and 551 more requiring visits.

Avon set upload targets and provided fire control with high rise evacuation strategies.

The recommendation on managing temporary risks and vulnerable people became an area for improvement.

Prevention training reached 87 percent of wholetime firefighters and about 67 percent of on call staff.

HMICFRS kept prevention as a cause of concern with one recommendation open on capacity.

HMICFRS issued a separate letter to Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service on 4 September 2025.

The letter followed a revisit in June 2025.

HMICFRS closed the cause of concern on EDI and issued one area for improvement.

The area for improvement covers monitoring and evaluation of EDI objectives and positive action.