Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold this information.
Please see below the answer to your request.Initial Request:
Do you have High-rise structures in your response area, if yes how many and what is the size of the largest structure?
Do you have an operational policy for dealing with high-rise incident, if yes would be able to provide a copy of this information?
What is your Pre-determined Attendance (PDA) for an incident in a High-rise premise for an unconfirmed and confirmed fire?
What are your average response times for the first and second fire appliance for the last three years?
How many turn outs have you had in the last three years to a High-rise property?
Out of these responses how many required firefighting actions to be carried out?
In the last three years have any issues, which hindered Firefighters response at High-rise incidents been recorded/observed?
If yes what were the factors involved?
Since the Grenfell incident in 2017 have you made changes to your PDA for a High-rise incident; confirmed and unconfirmed?
Since the Grenfell incident in 2017 have you made changes to your policies/procedures regarding High-rise incidents?
In the last three years have you as a service researched/implemented new tactics or equipment for dealing with high-rise incidents?
Final Response:
Do you have High-rise structures in your response area, if yes how many and what is the size of the largest structure?
Number of high-rise residential properties:
4 to 9 storeys 201.
10 or more storeys 62
The largest residential structure is 16 floors.
Do you have an operational policy for dealing with high-rise incident, if yes would be able to provide a copy of this information?
Yes we do, we are also in the process of adopting National Operating Guidance https://www.ukfrs.com/scenarios/building-over-18m-high, ECFRS high rise SOP attached.
What is your Pre-determined Attendance (PDA) for an incident in a High-rise premise for an unconfirmed and confirmed fire?
Incident type high rise 4 x pumps, 1 x Level 2 Incident Commander. Confirmed fire mobilise an additional 2 X Pumps, 1 X Operational Support Officer, 1 X Incident Command Unit & Support Pump, 2 X Level 2 Command Supports Officers
What are your average response times for the first and second fire appliance for the last three years?
See Attached Excel Spreadsheet.
1st Appliance Average Response Time Calculation = 1st appliance at scene (time mobilised to time at scene) - average over each year
2nd Appliance Average Response Time Calculation = 2nd appliance at scene (time mobilised to time at scene) - average over each year
How many turn outs have you had in the last three years to a High-rise property? Out of these responses how many required firefighting actions to be carried out?
This data is collated using our Incident Recording System (IRS data) to provide the number of High Rise Property incidents attended by incident type. Please see the attached Excel Spreadsheet for data.
In answer to the second part of the question, we can only identify firefighting actions that were carried out at fire incidents. Therefore, we have provided data based on that caveat.
In the last three years have any issues, which hindered Firefighters response at High-rise incidents been recorded/observed? If yes what were the factors involved?
Residents self-evacuating
Building layout
Parking (access for appliances)
Details on initial call/wrong information given to crews on arrival?
Since the Grenfell incident in 2017 have you made changes to your PDA for a High-rise incident; confirmed and unconfirmed?
No we have not made any changes to our PDA for high-rise incidents.
Since the Grenfell incident in 2017 have you made changes to your policies/procedures regarding High-rise incidents? Yes we have made changes to our policies/procedures regarding High-rise incidents?
Thank you for your interest in Essex County Fire & Rescue Service.? In the last three years have you as a service researched/implemented new tactics or equipment for dealing with high-rise incidents?
Yes we have researched/implemented new tactics