Our Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) is a three-year strategy aimed at identifying the key risks and challenges facing the communities of West Yorkshire, alongside our strategies to address them.

It includes: 

• A compilation of foreseeable fire and rescue-related hazards.
• The deployment of resources for prevention, protection, and response measures.
• Our Service’s priorities, outlining how resources will be allocated to mitigate these risks. 

The ambition of West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS) is to 'Make West Yorkshire Safer'.  To achieve this, we must identify and understand the current and future risks and challenges faced by our local communities. 

In West Yorkshire, we manage a diverse range of risks from densely populated deprived areas to rural and isolated communities, and industrial and commercial sites to remote moorland and waterways, all connected by an extensive transport network. In addition to our current risk, we are addressing emerging challenges such as the increasing prevalence of electric vehicles and battery technologies, alongside the impacts of climate change. 

Our proactive approach involves continuously adapting to these evolving risks. By staying ahead of these challenges, we ensure that our strategies and resources are effectively aligned to safeguard the community of West Yorkshire. Through innovation and collaboration, we are committed to maintaining a responsive and resilient service that meets the needs of all residents.

"Through innovation and collaboration, we are committed to maintaining a responsive and resilient service."

Since our last plan was launched in April 2022, we have reached several significant milestones, including:

• Replacing our fleet of fire engines and aerial ladder platforms.
• Redeveloping our main site in Birkenshaw to deliver a modern, energy-efficient Headquarters, with a purpose-built training arena and the new Spen Valley Fire Station.
• Investing £8m in a replacement mobilising system for Fire Control.
• Introducing lightweight, multi-role personal protective equipment to all operational staff.
• Investment in our Fire Protection resource and capability.
• Increasing the number of firefighters we employ to improve our response.
• Expanding our youth intervention team, allowing us to connect with even more young people across our communities.
• Assessing our protection framework and bolstering our team with additional staff members to strengthen the inspection programme.
• Substantial capital investment in our Digital, Data, and Technology team to enhance our digital infrastructure.

We will continue working closely with the five local authorities in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield, as well as key partners such as West Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Our objective is to collectively provide the best possible service to all our communities, focusing our fire prevention efforts on safeguarding the most vulnerable. 

Our people are vital to our success. Motivated, skilled, and dedicated to making a difference, they serve West Yorkshire with pride. Their dedication to high operational standards helps us accomplish our objectives, while our commitment to continuous improvement ensures the Service’s ongoing evolution.

It’s crucial for the Service to understand our communities. One important approach is to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the people it serves, attracting and retaining the best candidates from all backgrounds. 

Promoting the values and leadership that define our culture, along with fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can develop and excel, is central to our future. It’s essential we instill the values we’ve identified as vital for success. We’re committed to keeping West Yorkshire safe by preventing harm, protecting people, and responding effectively to incidents. 

We’ll make sure our teams are well-trained, well-equipped, and in the right place at the right time to deliver outstanding service to our communities.

"Our people are vital to our success and their dedication to high operational standards helps us accomplish our objectives."