Use local knowledge

Knowledge of the local area can significantly contribute to successful and efficient incident outcomes. Fire and rescue service personnel should endeavour to learn as much as possible about the identified risks in the area to gain an understanding of the hazards they may encounter, and any precautions they should take.

The ability to read printed maps or street atlases may be required to locate an incident. Fire and rescue service vehicle drivers should have a good understanding of local road networks and be able to anticipate the effect that the incident may have on approach routes. Other local knowledge could include:

• Local events
• Traffic hotspots
• Roads prone to flooding

In rural areas, personnel should have an awareness of accessible farm tracks and the extent to which they can be used to reach isolated incidents. They should know the make-up of open land and susceptible areas, including sites of special scientific interest (SSSI).