Responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service lies with Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (CFA) which meets five times per year and consists of 25 elected representatives on the basis of:-
3 from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
3 from Blackpool Council
19 from Lancashire County Council
The responsibilities of the CFA are derived primarily from the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 under which it must provide:
A fire and rescue service for the geographical area of Lancashire
Training for its staff
Arrangements to receive calls and mobilise fire crews
Effective water supplies
Fire Safety advice where requested
The Act also allows the equipment and resources of the fire and rescue service to be
used for other purposes such as rescues of the fire and rescues from road traffic
accidents, dealing with hazardous substances and calls to flooding. Under other
legislation, the Fire Authority, through the fire and rescue service is also
responsible for ensuring that places of work are safe from fire. The Authority also acts
as an agent for other organisations in carrying out inspections on theatres, cinemas,
houses in multiple occupation, residential care premises and many other public buildings.
The CFA must also ensure that the work of the fire and rescue service is efficient,
effective and economical and meets the principles of Best Value. In order to deliver
services most effectively, the fire and rescue is organised into six geographical
areas along local authority boundaries. This configuration is extremely important
as it encourages inter-agency co-operation and effective partnership working.
