The Greater Manchester Fire Service has received an ‘outstanding’ in multiple areas for the first time.

After an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), the fire service was awarded ‘outstanding’ for prevention and culture.

The report praised the service’s culture first board, which ‘promotes a positive and respectful culture at the heart of the service’s work’.

This is achieved through organisational transparency, a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and staff being aware of what unaccetable behaviour looks like.

The report also praised the service’s fire prevention strategy, including its prevention in prisons programs.

The lowest rating GMFR’s received was an ‘adequate’ rating for their enforcement of fire regulations.

The report highlighted how new fire regulation legislation, paired with a many Manchester residents living in large tower blocks, was giving the services a difficult workload to manage.

To combat this, GMFRs has hired new staff, upgraded the skills of existing fire safety officers and providing more advice to staff.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Greater Manchester has a fire and rescue service we can be proud of.

“I’ve often said that GMFRS is one of the best services not just in this country, but anywhere. The inspectors’ findings reinforce this belief. ”

Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russel, said: “I am particularly pleased to have been awarded these [outstanding ratings] for our nation-leading work on prevention, helping us to use our resources in the most effective way, and in our service’s culture, which I made my number one priority when joining the service.” 

GMFRs received a ‘good’ rating in all other areas, including understanding fire risk and responding to fires.

Main image credit: GMFRs