Fire service needs investment, review recommends

Guernsey's fire service has been given 15 recommendations after an independent review, including the need for investment to tackle new risks.

The States of Guernsey said the report, published on Tuesday by the Committee for Home Affairs, recognised both the strengths and opportunities for improvement of the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS).

The recommendations included a need for increased investment to "offset a long period of financial austerity, which has eroded GFRS' ability to address new risks and challenges".

Home Affairs President Marc Leadbeater said he was proud of the GFRS's reputation and "the recommendations provide a clear direction for strengthening the service further".

The Local Government Association's Peer Challenge Report was carried out by a team of senior fire and rescue professionals and local government officials from the UK, Jersey, Isle of Man and Gibraltar in October 2025.

States of Guernsey said the report found GFRS was a "respected and professional organisation" and was staffed by "dedicated personnel" who play a "vital role in keeping the Bailiwick safe".

The key recommendations included:

• The States of Guernsey would need to invest more in GFRS and in a management and delivery capacity.
• The creation of a Community Risk Management Plan to identify and prioritise risk.
• Develop and introduce strategies for Response, Protection and Prevention.
• Develop the relationship between the chief fire officer and the president and deputies on the Home Affairs Committee.
• Consideration of key operational strategies to ensure it was highly effective and make best use of resources.
• Ensuring it worked with partners and examine the fire service's operational resilience for handling island-wide risk and emergencies.
• The development of a People Strategy to promote diversity, succession planning and leadership development within the service.

Chief fire officer Les Britzman said: "It is my view that our teams are our greatest asset, and their commitment to public safety is second to none."

He said it was good to see this reflected in the report but it was equally helpful to identify clear areas to focus on.

"I look forward to implementing the recommendations and building on our strong foundations to deliver the best possible service to Guernsey and Herm," Britzman added.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.