Fire service delighted by inspectors' report

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has been praised by a watchdog for "making progress" since it was last inspected three years ago.

The report, by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), rated the brigade as "outstanding" both for understanding and preventing fires.

The service was also rated "good" in eight other categories and "adequate" in one.

Phil Shillito, Humberside's chief fire officer, said he was "delighted" with the report, which stood "as a testament" to the "passion, dedication and professionalism" of staff.

Michelle Skeer, of HMICFRS, said it was "pleasing to see the service has made progress" since 2022 and congratulated it for "keeping people safe and secure".

"The service is also working well with local health organisations to provide an on-call falls response team, helping more people live in their homes for longer, reducing demand on other services.

"I commend them for the changes it has made and will keep in close contact to monitor progress," she added.

The report said the service had improved performance through the use of data analysis, which helped it to assess risks such as deliberate fires and tailor services accordingly.

Humberside Fire and Rescue was also told it was good at responding to major incidents, fires and emergencies and utilising resources.

But inspectors said the service was "adequate" when it came to promoting values and culture. Some staff lacked confidence in using feedback systems, and leaders at a senior and middle level needed to be more visible.

Mr Shillito said: "I have never been prouder of our remarkable fire and rescue service. We will continue to embrace new ideas to strengthen the trust the community places in us and overcome any challenges to ensure people's safety.

"While there is always room for improvement, we will build on this report's outcomes to keep our communities safe."

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