Release date: 25 September 2026
The growing threat of wildfires and the resilience of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service were among the key issues examined by councillors at West Sussex County Council’s Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Committee.
Councillors received a detailed update on the service's wildfire preparedness and scrutinised its latest performance results at the meeting held today (Friday 25 September).
The update highlighted how prolonged hot, dry conditions have increased the risk of wildfires locally and nationally. Between January and August 2026, West Sussex firefighters attended 22 wildfires, 21 other large outdoor fires and 677 smaller fires in the open, including bonfires, garden fires and small grass fires.
Councillors were told that West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has robust arrangements in place to prevent, prepare for and respond to wildfires. These include dedicated wildfire specialists, operational response plans, specialist firefighting equipment and close working with partners through the Sussex Resilience Forum. The service is also procuring eight new multi-capability four-wheel-drive vehicles to further strengthen its wildfire and water rescue capability.
However, the committee heard that the increasing frequency and severity of these incidents is placing additional demands on fire and rescue services and will require further national investment in firefighter numbers and specialist equipment.
The committee also scrutinised the service's Quarter 1 Performance Report, covering the period from 1 April to 30 June 2026. During this time, the service implemented new fire safety regulations following recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in line with the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, introduced new breathing apparatus equipment for firefighters and delivered two targeted education programmes to help young people develop valuable life skills.
Of the 27 core performance measures monitored by the service, 23 were rated green, three amber and one red. Four measures improved during the quarter, including a 100% success rate in contacting residents identified as being at very high risk of fire within one working day of referral.
Six measures declined compared with the previous quarter, including on-call fire engine availability overnight. The committee examined the pressures affecting on-call resilience and the work underway to improve availability. However, seven new on-call firefighters joined the service during this quarter and further recruitment courses have since been carried out to strengthen resilience across the county.
Councillor Alex Jeffery, Chair of the Fire and Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee, said: “This summer has underlined how quickly the wildfire risk is changing, both nationally and here in West Sussex with more than half of our county made up of protected countryside.
“The committee heard about the considerable planning, specialist equipment and training already in place, but our job is also to test whether the service has the resources and resilience it will need as these incidents become more frequent and demanding.
“Overall performance remains strong, and this committee will continue to focus on those areas where further improvement is needed. We will continue to closely monitor on-call availability and the measures being taken to strengthen resilience across West Sussex.
“Our firefighters do an exceptional job in increasingly challenging circumstances, and the committee will continue to provide constructive but robust scrutiny to ensure they have the support, equipment and capacity they need to keep our communities safe.”
