DN6/YNYCA/M/2025 – Approval of the new NYFRS Community Risk Management 2025-2029
DN6/YNYCA/M/2025
Date: 11/12/2025
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Executive Summary
Under the Fire and Rescue National Framework (2018), every fire and rescue service must produce and consult on a Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). The CRMP identifies key risks and challenges facing our communities and sets out how North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS) will use its people, vehicles, and equipment to manage and reduce those risks. It serves as the Service’s strategic roadmap for future planning, improvement, and effective resource allocation.
The Mayor sets overarching priorities through the Fire and Rescue Plan 2025–2029, which are delivered through the CRMP. Responsibility for developing the CRMP rests with the Chief Fire Officer, who defines risk and resource requirements across the Service area.
Decision
To approve the NYFRS Community Risk Management Plan 2025–2029, including its Areas of Focus and the two proposed service delivery changes outlined below. The new CRMP can be accessed here: Plans and Reports – North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
- To extend the Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) attendance policy from 12 hours to 24 hours (no attendance at commercial premises without sleeping risk unless fire confirmed).
- To replace one of the two water bowsers.
Approval is subject to the following assurances and content changes:
Automatic Fire Alarm Policy
The Deputy Mayor sought additional assurances regarding potential delays in the rare event that an AFA signals a genuine fire, particularly at commercial premises in remote rural areas where the response time to a genuine emergency would be longer and where it is possible a genuine fire would take longer to be confirmed. The Service will:
- Implement a comprehensive communication plan prior to the policy change to ensure responsible persons and Alarm Receiving Centres are fully informed.
- Continue to work with responsible persons to reinforce legal responsibilities and improve understanding of fire safety obligations.
- Deliver a targeted business engagement programme, focusing on commercial premises in rural and remote areas where response times are unavoidably longer.
- Continue its core regulatory responsibilities, with specialist fire safety staff auditing all high-risk premises every three years in line with the Risk-Based Inspection Programme.
- Maintain an effective call-challenging process to ensure AFAs are appropriately assessed. An emergency response will always be provided if a fire is confirmed.
Water Bowser Replacement
In response to consultation feedback, early learning from the requirements of the Fylingdales Moor fire and subsequent assurances sought by the Deputy Mayor, a number of changes to the Areas of Focus have been made:
- A new Area of Focus has been introduced to strengthen resilience to major incidents, ‘Developing a Community Asset Register and formalising contracts with third-party providers to support our response to wildfires and other Major Incidents.’
- The original CRMP proposal, which focused on ‘exploring new technologies and partnerships to enhance wildfire resilience,’ has been broadened and made more explicit. It now states: ‘Replacing one of our two water bowsers and redirecting funds towards wildfire training, alternative vehicles, equipment, and PPE to improve rural response in line with the community risk profile.’ The Service will seek to procure the most appropriate vehicles to address identified risks across the service area.
- The recent Fylingdales Moor fire highlighted the critical importance of water logistics to deliver capacity way in excess of the capabilities NYFRS could hold in Service, in tackling large-scale rural fires. In response, the Deputy Mayor has asked for an additional Area of Focus within the CRMP: ‘We will closely work with our partners to ensure we maintain suitable water provision across the service area.
The Decision Notice relating to the CRMP public consultation can be found below:
- Published on