The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Performance Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss performance and other matters. The agenda includes reviewing the performance report for the second quarter of 2025/26, letters of appreciation, and formal complaints. Some of the discussion will be held in a session that will not be open to the public.

Performance Report Quarter Two 2025/26

The committee will be presented with a report summarising the organisational performance at the end of the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.

The report states that 48.83% of the strategic performance indicators met or exceeded their target level, while 55.8% either maintained or improved compared to the previous year.

The report breaks down performance into several categories:

Prevention

The report states that there have been no deaths arising from accidental fires in dwellings this year.

The number of accidental dwelling fires is up, with 99 incidents year-to-date, 13 above the target. Kitchen-related fires remain the primary risk. The report notes that most properties had smoke alarms fitted. Higher incident areas included High Handenhold, Peterlee, Durham, and Spennymoor.

The report mentions ongoing engagement with partners, such as social services, delivering 'Eyes Wide Open' training to their staff, and positive engagement with Hospital Discharge Teams with the expectation of referrals of vulnerable residents.

Hospitalisations from accidental dwelling fires are slightly below target, with six year-to-date, compared to a target of seven.

The number of secondary fires is significantly above target, with 2,358 year-to-date, compared to a target of 1,586. The increase is attributed to the dry, warm weather, leading to a spike in vegetation-related incidents. The report notes that 91% of the secondary fires are deliberate. The peak time for these incidents is 4-9 pm. All stations have seen a significant increase with the highest number of incidents occurring in Darlington (401), High Handenhold (378) and Peterlee (329).

The report states that crews actively use analysis tools to identify high demand areas and conduct target hardening activities and raise awareness. During quarter two, Emergency Response crews have delivered 2,008 deliberate fire reduction activities.

The number of Home Fire Safety Visits is above target, with 9,481 delivered year-to-date, exceeding the target of 9,002.

Targeted Home Fire Safety Visits are performing well, at 99.2%, above the target of 80%.

Protection

The report states that primary fires in non-domestic premises are above target, with 87 year-to-date, compared to a target of 59.

There have been 27 incidents in prisons: 19 in Deerbolt, four in HMP Durham and four in HMP Frankland, with all incidents being deliberately set. The report notes that the service does not have legislative responsibility for prisons, but continues to work with these establishments. The Director of Community Risk Management is leading a national piece of work to reduce prison fires and working locally with prison Governors.

The report anticipates that anti-tamper vapes should be rolled out in quarter three, as conventional vapes are the highest ignition source for cell fires.

False alarms caused by automatic fire detection equipment are below target, with 332 incidents year-to-date, compared to a target of 349.

The number of fire safety audits completed is above target, with 1,159 year-to-date, exceeding the target of 1,014. The report notes that 52.4% of audits were unsatisfactory, demonstrating that the service is effectively targeting the premises most in need of intervention.

Response

The report notes that the total number of emergency calls received was 11,648 and the total number of incidents was 4,960.

The total number of road traffic collisions was 159.

The report states that total primary fires are above target, with 634 year-to-date, compared to a target of 541.

Over half (53.0%) of all primary fires are set deliberately. The service continues to work with partners such as through the multi-agency Arson Suppression Group to identify ways to reduce deliberate fire incidents.

49.8% (316) of primary fires are vehicle fires with the majority (72.2%) being set deliberately. Peterlee station area is still the highest across the Service area for vehicle fires, followed by Darlington and Seaham.

Dwelling fires attended within 8 minutes is just under the 70% target, at 69.2%.

Non-domestic fires attended within 9 minutes is 66.7%. The report states that this standard continues to be affected by incidents at Deerbolt prison.

Road traffic collisions attended within 10 minutes is 71.4%.

Availability of on-call appliances - 1st pump is 68.7% against a target of 75%.

Health and Safety

The report states that there have been eight accidents to personnel year-to-date, which is five over the target.

Service contributory vehicle accidents are also above target, with 14 year-to-date, which is six over the target.

One incident occurred in July, where an appliance veered off track into a ditch during a 'wildfire plan' visit in Hamsterley Forest.

Letters of Appreciation

The committee will review letters of appreciation received by the service between 1 July 2025 – 30 September 2025. Seven letters were received in this period.

One letter relates to Bih Aklid Gsopucanreen, who was rescued from a vehicle following a road traffic collision.

Another letter was received from a carer regarding the County Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue Service's response to a fire at P R Kitchd.

A third letter praises County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue crews for their response to a fire at a residential care home.

Another letter thanks crews for their response to a fire near Bl Dadde Tiai airfield.

A further letter thanks a crew from Darlington fire station for their response to an incident on Wdd Stb 10.

Another letter thanks the service for their response to a fire at a property in Faverdale.

Finally, a letter thanks crews who attended a woman who was injured at home. The letter praises the crew from Thetford Sub 187.

Formal Complaints Quarter Two 2025/26

The committee will also discuss formal complaints received during the second quarter of 2025/26. This discussion is scheduled to take place in a session that will not be open to the public, due to the inclusion of exempt or confidential information, as defined by the Local Government Act 1972.