NFCC and BARTA renew commitment to protecting animals in emergencies

• National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 

• The partnership strengthens best practice in responding to incidents involving animals, supporting public safety, animal welfare, and safe working practices for firefighters through evidence-based guidance and training.  

• The Animal Rescue Practitioners Forum (ARPF) will continue to provide a key platform for sharing knowledge and embedding animal welfare within emergency response planning. 

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA), reaffirming their shared commitment to safeguarding animal welfare, public safety, and supporting safe practices for firefighters at incidents involving animals. 

The MoU builds on more than a decade of collaboration, first established in 2012, and will see NFCC and BARTA continue to work together to establish consistent standards, share expertise, and promote training opportunities across the fire and rescue sector. 

By strengthening this partnership, NFCC and BARTA aim to further embed animal welfare within emergency response planning. This includes ensuring operational learning and best practice are shared nationally, and that services can access specialist knowledge and resources through NFCC’s Animal Rescue Practitioners Forum (ARPF) to manage incidents safely and effectively.  

Through the ARPF, fire and rescue services will have opportunities to contribute to national learning, participate in working groups, and access specialist resources developed in collaboration with BARTA. The forum will also enable the involvement of BARTA staff, alongside other key stakeholders such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), in support of collaborative development across the sector. 

National Fire Chiefs Council Animal Rescue Lead, Steve Buchanan-Lee, said:  

“Animals of all kinds, including domestic pets, livestock, equine, wildlife, and exotic or zoo species, play an important role in people’s lives and in the wellbeing of our communities. Incidents involving animals can be particularly hazardous and emotionally challenging for both owners and emergency responders.

“Our partnership with BARTA, supported by a network of key stakeholders such as the RSPCA, ensures that UK fire and rescue services have access to the specialist knowledge and guidance they need to prepare for and respond to these situations with confidence. Together, we are helping to protect local communities while safeguarding the animals in their care.”

British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association’s Director, Jim Green, said: 

“Key to supporting communities during emergency or disaster is ensuring that animals are fully integrated into planning and response. The UK fire and rescue service is already world-renowned for driving standards in animal rescue. BARTA continues to build on these foundations, equipping firefighters for their specialist role in managing incidents involving animals by delivering high-quality training, providing multi-agency awareness, developing resources and enabling wider support through a coordinated network of animal welfare and veterinary specialists.

“With increasing financial pressures and evolving prevalence of climate-related emergencies, this partnership and shared commitment to building resilient communities is more relevant than ever.”