'Lives put at risk' by the methods used to fight fires in Wales (original) (raw)

Firefighters have been put at "unnecessary risk" and avoidable damage has occured to properties because outdated or inappropriate tactics were used in fighting fires, a report has found. It has said crews will need to "unlearn" tactics taught over the last two decades.

An inspection of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) was carried out in July and August 2024 looking at a total of 252 incidents which occurred between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2023. The report, by the Welsh Government's fire safety adviser Dan Stephens reads: "We consider that the operational tactics employed by the service, at a substantial number of incidents, have placed firefighters at unnecessary risk and/or resulted in avoidable damage to properties.

"We have serious concerns that the adverse safety events that can result from this are not being recognised, let alone being reported." It goes on to say that "much of the content" in the procedure guidelines for fighting fires within the service is "disjointed and in some instances scientifically incorrect".

"It reflects tactics partially introduced nearly 30 years ago, several of which were not scientifically proven at the time or designed for use within the UK. This is likely not to be limited to South Wales and may well be replicated across much of the UK," the report says.

It says training facilities available to instructors cannot fully recreate scenarios that are reflective of the modern fire environment but instructors have tried to remedy issues themselves. The report says firefighters will need to be "retrained in firefighting tactics" and "unlearn what have become default tactics and thought processes for them over the last two decades and more".

"This will," the report says, "require a significant investment in training in terms of resources and time. That cannot be in place of current risk reduction activities but as well as."

It also says its findings should not be taken as a criticism of south Wales firefighters, officers or their training instructors and should be in place by July 2025. In a written statement, Wales' minister with responsibility for housing and local government, Jayne Bryant, said: "Its overall finding is that the firefighting tactics and equipment used during this period were not as effective as they could have been in containing and extinguishing fires swiftly and effectively.

"The CFRAI finds that in some instances these may have increased damage to property and risk to life. I want to make it clear that there is no criticism in the report of frontline firefighters, who continue to do their utmost to protect life and property.

"The public can have confidence in that. The issue is about how firefighters are trained, equipped and the tactics employed to fight fires.

"This is a problem not confined to SWFRS or to Wales. For around 30 years, this approach has been adopted to fighting fire by fire and rescue services across the UK. It needs to change more widely."

A statement from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the report "highlights concerns that operational tactics employed by the Service have placed firefighters at unnecessary risk and/or resulted in avoidable damage to properties". [**For the latest politics news in Wales sign up to our newsletter here.**](https:// https://www.walesonline.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/?view=Solus&mailingListId=8cdecf69-0a19-43af-8d50-ed4e2c52d045&utm%5Fsource=solusarticle )

They said: "Although the findings of the report may seem concerning, the service would like to reassure and reiterate to members of the public that the criticism is directed at tactics and procedures dictated by operational guidelines agreed at National Fire Chief Council (NFCC) level, and not at SWFRS officers and firefighters." The service is currently being run by four commissioners, appointed by the Welsh Government, after a damning report published in January about the culture within the service. You can see that here.

The statement, by those four commissioners, said: "The commissioners are pleased that the Welsh Government response makes clear there is no criticism in the report of SWFRS frontline firefighters, and that the issue is surrounding training, equipment, and tactics at a national level. Whilst the commissioners recognise and value the findings of the report, and are committed to implementing most of the recommendations made - which should allow SWFRS to be at the forefront of leading the way for operational firefighting – they have also made clear that some of the recommendations, including changes to the shift system, are areas that require much more detailed analysis and risk assessment, and any immediate changes would be premature and presumptive. For the latest politics news in Wales sign up to our newsletter here.

"Work has already commenced, and a dedicated officer has been identified to work exclusively on reviewing and implementing the recommendations." In the Senedd on Wednesday, October 8, SWFRS was discussed in a pre-planned debate.

Chair of the equality and social justice committee Jenny Rathbone said in the debate recommendations to make fire services more cost effective and safer are being ignored and there has to be reform of Wales' fire services. She told the Senedd there was a "need to consult" ahead of reform. She called on the Welsh Government to set out options and commit to a white paper ahead of Senedd elections in 2026.

Ms Rathbone said: "There was a report published yesterday that helpfully highlights that of all the thematic reviews that he has conducted, so many of his recommendations have simply been ignored. This is definitely one of the weaknesses in the system. The idea that you can hear what the latest evidence is, based on intensive research, and simply ignore it.

"All these reports on the lessons to be learned from Grenfell, the role of firefighters and how they could be broadened, and a haphazard approach to training, is all summarised in the report that was published yesterday. In south Wales, it is good to realise that the commissioners are pushing ahead with these recommendations, with project groups set up by the commissioners and the interim chief fire officer, but clearly there is a failure of governance, which is fundamental, where recommendations based on such intensive research and real-life fires, to make fire services more cost effective and safer, are being ignored."

In her response, Ms Bryant said she wanted all three Welsh fire services to act urgently on the report by Mr Stephens.