We promote and enforce fire safety measures required by law to ensure buildings and occupants are protected in the event of a fire. We enforce the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies to nearly every building except single private homes.

We have invested in our Fire Protection Team, allowing us to allocate the right resources to the areas most at risk. We ensure our inspecting officers have the capacity to address new and emerging risks within West Yorkshire. Our Risk-Based Inspection Programme uses data and information to direct our resources to premises that present the greatest risk to occupants in the event of a fire. 

Our dedicated team consists of qualified and experienced fire safety officers who provide advice, support, and investigate complaints related to poor fire safety. Through our initiatives and statutory methods such as enforcement and licensing, we ensure that every premise our inspectors visit is safer when they leave.

By partnering with local authorities, we support building regulations to ensure new buildings incorporate relevant fire safety measures. We recognise that engaging with businesses is crucial to helping them fulfil their fire safety responsibilities, thereby supporting local economic growth. Our recently introduced Business Fire Safety Advisor roles are designed to not only provide a mechanism to engage with all types of businesses, but they also provide us with a robust team now and in the future. Enabling progression of Advisors to Inspectors ensures the long-term sustainability of the team, ensuring we continue to support our communities.

We focus the majority of our protection work at higher risk premises; these may be higher risk due to the complexity of the building, or due to the occupants within it. One key area we will continue to focus on is buildings with external wall defects that require remediation. We work with Local Authorities, West Yorkshire Combined Authority the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the newly formed Building Safety Regulator to ensure those responsible for remediating defects, do so in a timely manner. 

In addition to this, our Fire Protection Team enforces legislation for the storage of petroleum-spirit by issuing certificates for petrol stations and licenses for the storage of explosives and fireworks. We have and will continue to introduce measures to reduce the impact and likelihood of fireworks being used in an anti-social manner, working with government and local partners to tighten legislation and licensing procedures in this area. Our efforts to reduce persistent false alarms have led to a significant decline in numbers over the past 10 years, and this trend continues.