Climate Change: managing the operational impact on fires and other weather-related emergencies

The aim of this inspection is to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and preparedness of the Service and alignment to SG policies and how it plans, prepares and responds to incidents related to changes in weather conditions.

An inquiry by HM Inspectorate can be self-directed or can be subject to direction by Scottish Ministers. This inquiry is self-directed by HM Chief Inspector. The decision to carry out this inspection was influenced by the topicality of the subject, the strategic priority in the Framework, and the legal duties imposed on the SFRS.

The Inspection team members were:

• Robert Scott QFSM, Chief Inspector
• Rick Taylor, former Assistant Inspector, lead inspector from inception of this inspection until leaving the inspectorate in November 2022
• Brian McKenzie, Assistant Inspector, lead inspector from November 2022
• Iain Cameron, Inspection Officer (Seconded from the SFRS)

A quality assurance process assisted us by challenging a draft of this report. Quality assurance was carried out by Dan Stephens QFSM, Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser and Inspector for Wales.

All the members of the inspection team contributed to the development of this report and the quality assurance provided a professional challenge to the contents, assumptions and conclusions made. However, the Chief Inspector takes sole responsibility for the report, its contents and conclusions.

Our report reflects the circumstance at the time of our visits and interviews which were undertaken between August to December 2022 and March to May 2023. The SFRS is continuing to change and evolve, consequently, material changes may have occurred since the writing and publication of this report.

This inspection was not intended to be a comprehensive in-depth audit, albeit it is sufficiently detailed in order for the Chief Inspector to give a professional judgement on the activity and suitability of the Service’s arrangements within an operational context. It has established, to the Chief Inspector’s satisfaction, the facts needed to draw conclusions, make recommendations, identify areas for consideration and highlight good practice where appropriate.