Identified risk: specialist rescues
Specialist rescues are not statutory responsibilities for fire and rescue services, but there is an expectation and a need for our communities and partner agencies to be supported at these incidents. We also have legislative and regulative requirements that apply when attending statutory duty incidents involving flooding, confined space and working at height.
Number of specialist rescues incidents attended, including forecast to 2026/27
In the following chart, it can be seen that water rescue incidents have seen an upward trend from 50 incidents in 2016/17 to 90 incidents in 2019/20 (which was a very wet year). Water rescue activity is forecasted to continue due to the effect of climate change. Rescues from height incidents have generally seen a downward trend from 60 incidents in 2017/18 this is forecast to continue to fall to less than 40 incidents per year by 2026/27. Large animal rescue incidents have fallen from more than 100 in 2016/17 to 80 in 2020/21. This trend is forecasted to continue.
Medical incidents
As part of the wider emergency service community, to support our colleagues in the police and ambulance service, and to help keep our communities safe, we have 20 co-responder stations that have the capability to respond to medical emergencies. We also support the police and ambulance service to gain entry to properties where there may be a medical issue or risk to life.
Number of medical-related incidents attended, including forecast to 2026/27
This chart shows the number of medical-related incidents and gaining entry incidents attended between 2016/17 and 2020/21. It shows how the increasing trend and the number of gaining entry incidents are expected to continue.
- Medical pre-Covid-19 forecast is unavailable due to changes in policy.
- Gaining entry pre-Covid-19 forecast is based on a three-year period from April 2017 to March 2020.
