NFCC urges government to consult on flooding response legislation

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has renewed its call for the UK Government to consult on introducing a statutory duty for fire and rescue services in England to respond to flooding incidents.

This call coincides with recent flood warnings issued by the Met Office and marks one year since Storm Babet, which caused widespread flooding and damage across Europe, including the UK, where seven people lost their lives.

The NFCC has emphasised the need for an official mandate, accompanied by initial and sustained funding, to ensure that fire services can effectively respond to flooding incidents that pose a risk to life.

Fire and rescue services across the UK already respond to extreme weather events, but a statutory duty for flooding and inland water rescue exists only in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

This lack of uniformity has led to discrepancies in training, equipment, and overall preparedness across the four nations.

Inconsistent flood response across UK nations

While fire services in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have some statutory duties related to flooding, England lacks such a mandate.

The NFCC argues that this has created inconsistent standards and readiness levels across the UK, with some fire services in England potentially less equipped to respond to flooding emergencies.

Mark Hardingham, NFCC Chair, said: “With climate change leading to more frequent and severe weather events – as witnessed recently in the United States with Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton – flooding remains a significant risk, including to communities here in the UK.”

He also highlighted the essential role that fire services played during Storm Babet: “Fire and rescue services across the country played a vital role during the storm, responding to rising waters, evacuating residents, and protecting property.

“It is vital that they have the tools, training and resources to prepare and respond.”

Government response to NFCC’s concerns

In response to these concerns, the NFCC has been in discussions with the UK Government regarding flooding response.

According to Hardingham, the Fire Minister confirmed that further work would be undertaken by the Home Office, in collaboration with Defra, the NFCC, and other stakeholders, to identify gaps in flood response and resilience.

Hardingham added: “I am encouraged that the Fire Minister recently confirmed to me that Home Office officials would undertake further work with Defra, NFCC and other relevant parties to understand whether there are gaps in flooding response and resilience, and I look forward to this work being taken forward to help ensure that our communities are protected from the growing risks posed by extreme weather.”

Background on flood response duties

Statutory responsibilities for fire and rescue services regarding flooding have been in place in Scotland since 2005.

In Northern Ireland, these were introduced in 2012, and in Wales, the duties were extended in 2017 to cover a wider range of emergencies involving both inland water and flooding.

The NFCC is pushing for similar provisions in England to standardise the approach to flood response and ensure that services have the necessary resources and training to protect communities from the increasing risks associated with extreme weather.

NFCC calls for statutory duty for fire services in England to respond to flooding: summary

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has renewed its request for the UK Government to consult on introducing a statutory duty for fire and rescue services in England to respond to flooding.

Currently, only Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have statutory duties related to flooding, resulting in inconsistencies in preparedness and safety across the UK.

The NFCC has called for an official mandate, supported by appropriate funding, to ensure that fire services in England can effectively respond to flood-related emergencies.

The UK Government has indicated that further discussions will take place with stakeholders to assess current gaps in flood response.