Legislative responsibilities

Fire and rescue authorities have a responsibility to reduce the risk from fire and other emergencies to the community they serve, and the environment in which they operate.

UK legislation states that a fire and rescue authority must make provisions for:

• Extinguishing fires in its area
• Protecting life and property at fires in its area
• Rescuing and protecting people at a road traffic collision
• Rescuing and protecting people in emergencies

This legislation places a responsibility on the fire and rescue authority to make arrangements for obtaining the information needed for that purpose.

While delivering these core services, there are many other relevant legislative responsibilities that fire and rescue authorities need to consider in parallel, including:

• Data and information management
• Risk management
• The health, safety and welfare of their employees

These additional legislative responsibilities extend beyond the operational activities of a fire and rescue service, to any function that they perform.