Health & Safety News Brief Occupational Health & Safety Information Service
(OHSIS) November 2004

Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 – ODPM Factsheets

The Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2004 and it replaces the Fire Services Act 1947 with a new legislative framework to ensure the Fire and Rescue Service is better able to meet the particular challenges of the 21st Century.

The Act puts prevention at the heart of the Fire and Rescue Service by creating a new duty for all Fire and Rescue Authorities to promote fire safety and gives powers to help create safer communities. The role of authorities in responding to road traffic accidents and serious incidents such as major flooding and terrorist threats has also been recognised. Authorities are to create Integrated Risk Management Plans which should address specific local risks and co-responder schemes. For the first time the “Fire and Rescue National Framework” has been placed on a statutory footing and provides national and strategic guidance and support to the authorities.

The new areas in the Act are:

• Helping save more lives – is a duty on authorities to promote fire safety
• Modern legislation – the Act creates a new package of powers and duties for authorities to make them fit for purpose in the 21st Century
• Strategic vision and engagement – the “Fire and Rescue National Framework” will provide guidance and support for authorities
• An effective and efficient service – economy, efficiency and effectiveness to be considered alongside public safety
• Civil resilience – the Act underpins authorities role in responding to unforeseen events and emergencies
• Equipment – the Government has powers to purchase equipment and services to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness of authorities and to direct authorities on the use of their equipment
• Fire Service College – will evolve into a centre of excellence for the Fire and Rescue Service
• Negotiating bodies – new bodies can be set up to negotiate pay and conditions
• Engaging stakeholders the existing Advisory Council will be abolished and other advisory and stakeholder forums will be set up
• Pensions – a new scheme will be introduced whilst allowing the existing one to continue
• Powers of fire fighters – extends the powers to cover where fires are imminent\
• Information and investigation – statutory powers for these are provided
• Payments in respect of advisory bodies – financial support is available for the new advisory and stakeholder forums
• Devolution – the National Assembly in Wales will take over responsibility in the Principality
• Charging – the Act maintains the ability for fire authorities to charge for certain categories of service but not for the provision of emergency medical assistance