NFCC renews calls for action to tackle the impact of flooding

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

The call comes in a week where the Met Office has again issued multiple flood warnings and one year on from Storm Babet, which caused widespread flooding and damage across northern and western Europe, with seven people tragically losing their lives in the UK. NFCC is calling for the Government to consult on a statutory duty for fire and rescue services in England to respond to flooding incidents which pose a risk to life and says this should be underpinned by initial financial investment and ongoing funding.  

Fire and rescue services across the UK already undertake activities in response to extreme weather events. However, there is no statutory duty for fire and rescue services in England in relation to flooding and inland water rescue, which can result in discrepancies in equipment, training and standards between services. This is also leading to inconsistent levels of safety and preparedness across the four UK nations, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already having some statutory duties in place. 

NFCC Chair, Mark Hardingham, 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. Last year’s Storm Babet highlighted the critical need for coordinated and well-resourced flooding response efforts. 

“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. 

“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”. 

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

• Storm Babet formed on 15 October and dissipated on 22 October 2023. It was named by the Met Office on 16 October 2023. 

• Since 2005, Scottish FRS has had a duty to rescue people trapped, or likely to become trapped, by water, and to protect them from serious harm in the event of serious flooding. Similar provisions were introduced in Northern Ireland in 2012 and Wales in 2017. However, Welsh FRSs have a wider ranging statutory responsibility to make provisions, as far as it is reasonable, to rescue people or protect them from serious harm in the event of an emergency involving flooding, as well as rescue people in the event of an emergency involving inland water. No similar requirements are placed on English FRSs. 

• NFCC’s Flooding Response Position Statement can be read here: https://nfcc.org.uk/our-services/position-statements/flooding-response-position-statement/ 

• The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is an independent membership association and the professional voice of the UK Fire and Rescue Service. NFCC support fire and rescue services to continually improve, helping them to save lives and keep their local communities safe. NFCC are a charity and a membership association supporting and representing the UK Fire and Rescue Service. Founded in 1941, NFCC was established as a company and charity in 1998 as The Chief Fire Officers’ Association, transforming into the NFCC in 2017. 

For more information, please contact communications@nfcc.org.uk