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A new study commissioned by the National Fire Chiefs Council looks at the viability of the on-call firefighting system and finds that recruitment and retention remain a problem but with a focus on national leadership, cultural and employment issues, the model can be re-shaped for modern community protection.
Recognising that the issues that undermine the on-call model are not new, the study says that while there have been local initiatives, there has been little systemic change. It notes: “the evidence base compiled for this review highlights both the scale of the problem and the urgent need for coordinated national action.”
On-call firefighters are typically employed in other jobs and respond to incidents when alerted. They commit to remaining within a few minutes of their local station for a set number of hours each week, so that they can respond to emergencies when called upon.
The on-call duty system covers around 90 per cent of the UK landmass and provides the backbone of fire cover in rural and lower-risk areas.
In addition to the findings from a two-part survey of fire and rescue services carried out by the NFCC in 2024, the report also draws on the responses of 1600 on-call firefighters in a more recent survey.
Describing the on-call system as fragile, the study concludes that without concerted intervention, it is likely to continue to decline, with fewer on-call firefighters and a shift by some fire and rescue services to use more whole time firefighters. As a result, doing nothing is not an option and a new approach is needed it notes.
The 280-page report sets out four routes forward:
- incremental changes within fire and rescue services
- fundamental reform on existing on-call systems
- national sector-wide reform; or
- completely rethink the role.
It then looks at each route in turn taking the same approach: looking at where it sits within strategic reform, leadership and governance, workforce changes, cultural issues, and measurement of performance through better use of data.
The report concludes: The on-call system is not broken — but it is fragile. Without intervention and transformative investment, it risks further decline, reducing the resilience and effectiveness of UK fire and rescue services. With national leadership, consistent reform, and cultural change, the on-call duty system can be reshaped into a modern, sustainable, and valued model that continues to protect communities and enhance resilience across the UK.”
Responding to the report, the NFCC said that it is “pivotal and uniquely placed to lead and influence this change” but said that the action must take place at both national and local level with smaller improvements made alongside “bold, long-term reform.”
Read the report in full: National on-call research study.
Listen to CFO Craig Flannery talk about on-call firefighting in Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the wider national issues in a recent episode of For Every Response.
