Fire service still under scrutiny

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services has confirmed it is keeping a “cause of concern” in place over the service’s prevention work, along with six recommendations first issued in late 2024.

Inspectors revisited the service in January and found some positive steps, including a reduction in the backlog of home fire safety visit bookings and the introduction of a new risk-based approach to prioritising work. The waiting list for bookings has fallen from more than 2,000 to around 1,300, although this remains slightly above the service’s target range.

Despite this progress, the inspectorate said it is too early to close any of the recommendations and warned that more needs to be done to ensure vulnerable people are properly protected. It also stressed the importance of embedding changes across the organisation and making sure improvements can be sustained long-term.

The report highlighted that prevention work still needs to become a higher priority, with a more consistent system required to identify and respond to those most at risk, alongside clear timescales for action.

Chief Fire Officer Gavin Ellis said the service had taken the findings seriously and had been working hard to deliver an improvement plan. He welcomed the recognition of progress but acknowledged there was more to do, adding that time is needed for changes to fully take effect and demonstrate lasting impact.

The watchdog is expected to return for a further review, while the latest update will be discussed by the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority.