COUNTY’S FIRE SERVICE ONE OF BEST IN COUNTRY
COUNTY Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) has been rated as one of the best
performing in the country in a new report.
In a report published this week by His Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue
Services (HMICFRS), the Service has been recognised as ‘Outstanding’ in their ability to protect the
public through fire regulation. Meanwhile, they have been rated as ‘Good’ across nine other key
areas including for their culture, ability to manage and develop future leaders and their approach to
money management, both now and in the future.
Chief Fire Officer Steve Helps says the Service are proud but not complacent of their results.
He said: “Firstly, I must say a thank you to all our staff working across every department at every
level, for their hard work, commitment and compassion.
“I’m proud that this report, conducted by independent assessors, has confirmed what I already
know, that we’re an innovative Service with staff who are dedicated to our communities. This
inspection result is positive, but we are not complacent, and we will never stop striving to give our
communities the very best.”
He added: “HMICFRS play a vital role in ensuring fire services aren’t just doing their job, but
they’re doing it well, fairly, and safely. And these results allow us to celebrate all that we’re doing
well but, most importantly, reflect on what we can do better.
“Work is already underway to improve areas of our Service such as ‘ensuring fairness and
promoting diversity’, where we received an ‘Adequate’ grading. As a smaller service working with
limited resources, our strength lies in our innovation and determination.
“Our mission has never changed: to ensure the safest people, safest places. I’m incredibly proud
of everyone who contributed to these results, and I look forward to building on this success as we
continue working side by side to protect our communities.”
Durham County Councillor Paul Sexton, Chair of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and
Rescue Combined Fire Authority (CFA) said: “As the new Chair of the CFA, I am pleased that the
inspectorate has highlighted the wide range of excellent work that is carried out by staff across the
board at the CDDFRS.
“The Service has been graded as ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ across 10 of the 11 key inspection areas
and this is an achievement that staff should be proud of. Work is already underway to make changes
to some of the areas where the inspectorate have identified improvements could be made. The
Authority will continue to monitor progress on these actions, ensuring the best possible service for
the communities of County Durham and Darlington.”
