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19
Oct 2023
North Yorkshire fire service improving, say inspectors
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is making “significant steps” after requiring improvement, say inspectors.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services inspected the service in spring 2022 for effectiveness and efficiency.
They rated it as “requires improvement” for effectiveness and "inadequate" for its efficiency in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risk.
However, following a visit in September this year, inspectors said the service was now making progress.
In a report published today, Michelle Skeer, His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire Services, said there was evidence that the service had improved.
She said:
The Stray Ferret has approached North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for comment but not yet had a response.
Read more:
- North Yorkshire fire service ‘improving’ despite rising response times, says commissioner
- North Yorkshire chief fire officer defends charging for false alarm call outs
- Call for answers over North Yorkshire fire service rising response times
The move comes as North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel raised concern last week that the service’s response times had increased.
A meeting of the panel was told that people had to wait for an average of 13 minutes and nine seconds for firefighters to respond to incidents.
This compared with 11 minutes and 37 seconds the year before.
Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the figure as “worrying”.
However, Zoe Metcalfe, Conservative North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the service had been working “at pace to make considerable progress”.
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