Kent Fire and Rescue Service
Creating a safer future – together: Risk assessment

Kent is a major gateway to Europe and has road infrastructure to both passenger and freight traffic to the ports and the Channel Tunnel. In addition, there several major trunk roads crossing the county creating a network of roads that also have a high density of traffic.

Sadly, every week we lose lives in road traffic collisions across Kent and Medway.

KFRS continues to promote and support road safety messages with our partner agencies to assist in reducing the risk of unsafe and poorly maintained vehicles, drink and drug driving, distraction and overcrowding in vehicles. We also actively promote campaigns such as those relating to young drivers

KFRS continue to attend road traffic collisions (RTCs) to perform rescues and work with our partner agencies to keep road users safe. Operational crews undergo regular training in using the latest equipment and procedures to enable them to respond efficiently and effectively to the complex and noncomplex road traffic collisions.

To support our Secamb colleagues our crews are qualified to deliver immediate emergency Care (IEC) to road traffic casualties, performing lifesaving actions as part of the medical response during road traffic incidents.

KFRS continues to invest in the research and development of how we respond to incidents, focusing on new vehicle technology and how it performs following involvement in a collision. This research will shape and guide our procedures and the equipment we buy so that we are able to provide the best possible service to the community.

The nature of the response to many RTCs has changed over the last decade. Car safety systems and a greater understanding of the likely mechanisms of injury for casualties have combined to mean that we cut far less people out of cars than we used to. Most frequently we stabilise the vehicle and use one tool to open doors so the casualty can step out of the vehicle. This means that the extensive range of heavy rescue equipment carried on our appliances is used less frequently than it was a decade ago. However this equipment is still required for incidents involving major transport (lorries, trains etc).

• maintain a response capability across all operational stations through ongoing training and the development and provision of equipment and PPE
• maintain our urban search and rescue and heavy rescue capability
• maintain our major rescue unit provision
• continue to deliver externally accredited road traffic collision instruction 
• continue to deliver clinically governed trauma training
• continue to be an active member within the Kent Road Safety Partnership and share road safety messaging
• continue to deliver a wide range of prevention packages across educational settings and identified high risk groups
• continue to use intelligence to inform campaign activity
   

• respond to RTCs and vehicle fires in a manner that minimises the impact on life, the environment and infrastructure
• respond to RTCs and vehicle fires within the criteria of our key performance indicator
• continue to work effectively and efficiently in a collaborative way with other responding agencies utilising Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP)
• utilise drone assets for effective situational awareness and to support fire investigation
• use assurance monitoring system to gather service-wide and multi-agency learning post incident
• report areas of notable practice or learning via national or collaborative bodies (national operational learning and joint organisational learning)
• targeted prevention activities post incident
   

There are around 20,000 reported vehicle fires in England each year, with approximately 500 people suffering from vehicle fire-related injuries and deaths as a result. Such incidents may also have a significant impact on the environment and dependant on location, can affect properties and road networks.

Conventionally fuelled vehicles (petrol and diesel) are known as Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. Fires involving these can develop quickly. When fuel tanks fail, running fuel fires can create a risk of further fire spread to other vehicles and buildings.

We understand the risks of ICE vehicle fires well and have well tested procedures for dealing with them. As a result, we are often able to extinguish these fires quickly.

ICE vehicle fires produce toxic smoke that is a risk to our firefighters when they are working near them. The water runoff from our firefighting actions can also be harmful to the environment. In both cases we ensure that we put in place control measures to reduce the risk.

There are over 40 million licenced vehicles in the UK. This means there are probably around a million vehicles in Kent. Kent also has major motorway networks serving access to Europe and, as a result, there is also a significant volume of passenger and commercial traffic transiting through the county. Whilst vehicles have become more reliable in recent years, this number means that we are likely to continue to see vehicle fires being a regular occurrence.

Over the last five years we have attended more than 1,800 accidental vehicle fires. We have not seen a significant trend up or down over this period. During the same period there were 1,379 deliberate vehicle fires.

• maintain a response capability across all operational stations through ongoing training and the development and provision of equipment and PPE
• we have systems for reporting abandoned vehicles that can be set alight
• we work with partners through community safety partnerships to reduce anti-social behaviour and criminal damage
• we hold technical information on specific vehicle types and construction that provides information around access points on vehicles 
   

• the frequency of these incidents means firefighters are experienced in dealing with them quickly and efficiently
• we have good working relationships with National Highways and local authorities to ensure the rapid removal of damaged vehicles which reduces risks and allows roads to be reopened
• we have specific equipment available to firefighters so they can quickly access vehicles to extinguish fires
• many of our fire engines have specialist foam capability that can be used to rapidly extinguish vehicle fires
• we are also able to make holes and apply water directly through the metal surfaces of vehicles and access the compartments below
   

The UKs zero emissions vehicles mandate, as laid out by the government, means a total ban on the production of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035. As a result, we will see a rise in the number of electric vehicles and other alternative fuelled vehicles across the UK. This will also include the use of electric motorbikes, scooters, bicycles, and other electric vehicles.

The most common forms of alternative fuelled vehicles include:

• hybrid electric vehicle
• plug in hybrid electric vehicle
• battery electric vehicle
• hydrogen
• biodiesel

By far the most common of these are electric vehicles (both hybrid and plug in). Hydrogen vehicles are far less common and tend to be limited to larger vehicle applications such as buses and heavy goods vehicles.

This will change the risk profile relating to vehicle fires. Alternative fuelled vehicles present a different range of hazards to those of petrol or diesel vehicles and often require different tactical actions to extinguish them.

The most prominent hazard relating to an electric vehicle fire is the presence of lithium-ion batteries. These are generally safe, but if they are faulty, damaged, stored or charged inappropriately, they can present a risk of fire and/or explosion, Due to the chemical properties associated with lithium-ion batteries, they cannot be extinguished by water, and can therefore be challenging incidents to respond to, sometimes burning for hours. There have been cases of electric vehicles having been extinguished and re-igniting days after the initial fire has been controlled.

Fires involving lithium-Ion batteries also produce large volumes of extremely toxic and flammable gases. These present a significant danger to life with many reports of faulty e-bikes and scooters causing damage, injury and death in recent years.

Fires involving hydrogen fuelled vehicles carry risks such as venting of the gas under pressure, intense directional flames, and the risk of explosion.

Whilst they present their own unique risks, in the case of both electric and hydrogen vehicles, the likelihood of fires occurring seems to be far lower than in petrol and diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.  

• maintain a response capability across all operational stations through ongoing training and the development and provision of equipment and PPE
• we hold technical information on specific vehicle types and construction that provides information around access points on vehicles
• we are engaged at a national and international level to ensure we have all the latest information around alternative fuels and a member of KFRS senior management is the national fire service lead on alternative fuels
• we work with partners such as National Highways to help with quick recovery and opening of roads
• we learn from incidents and have debrief outcomes for a number of incidents involving alternatively fuelled vehicles
   

• we have specific equipment available to firefighters so they can quickly access vehicles to extinguish fires. This includes specific training and information around alternative fuelled vehicles
• we have good working relationships with National Highways and local authorities to ensure the rapid removal of damaged vehicles which reduces risks and allows roads to be reopened
• we can make holes and apply water directly through the metal surfaces of vehicles and access the compartments below
   

Kent currently has one airport in Lydd and two airfields at Rochester and Headcorn, with several private airstrips across the county. There also remains the potential development of Manston airport reopening. Due to Kent’s proximity to London and its major airports we have many aircraft occupying our airspace, with significant air traffic over Kent travelling to Gatwick, Heathrow and London City Airport. This air traffic ranges from commercial airlines and military aircraft to smaller private planes, gliders and microlights.

Kent hosts various airshow events which may include low level flyovers, flypasts, multiple aircraft and display teams, as well as vintage aircraft like the Spitfire.

Aircraft incidents are infrequent but have the potential for significant impact, especially if they happen off the airfield away from specialist resources. Airborne aircraft accidents may be due to technical failures, pilot errors or weather conditions. Grounded runway collisions may also lead to fires or spillage of hazardous materials.

Airports and aircraft hold significant storage of aviation fuel with potential for leaks or explosions. Aircrafts also may transport a range of dangerous goods, which may further present an environmental risk due to spills. Airport infrastructure may pose risks due to large passenger terminals, hangars and goods storage. The aviation sector has security concerns as a potential target for terrorist attacks. Large numbers of people are also present at busy passenger terminals that may cause additional complications for an operational response.

• actively engage in National Fire Chiefs Council prevention, protection, and response working groups, both at strategic and tactical levels
• undertake research, staying updated on aircraft equipment advancements, and firefighting techniques to effectively deal with aircraft incidents
• prepare for events, consider upcoming airshow events and consider public safety, working with event organisers to mitigate risk presented by large crowds
• provide relevant training and continuing professional development (CPD) regarding aircraft incidents, focussing on rescue techniques and effective firefighting
• ensure colleagues have the appropriate knowledge through training and exercising to enable an effective operational response
• provision of specialist equipment and teams, to enable complex extrication with technical rescue and provide effective firefighting with a foam unit, to enable effective operational response
• preparation by ensuring airports have detailed site specific risk information containing an effective emergency response plan where required
• maintain fire hydrants across Kent and Medway through a dedicated water team
• risk information feedback from fire crews reporting risk information through our mobile reporting system for quick assessment and action
• create site-specific risk information and risk summaries as needed to provide fire crews with up-to-date information for airports and airstrips
   

• ensure effective and well-trained firefighters with appropriate equipment are deployed promptly to respond to emergencies
• ensure emergency response coordination with airport authorities, air traffic control and other relevant agencies during emergency response
• post-incident community work, with prevention, protection and response colleagues conducting post-incident community work after fires
• fire forensic investigation, collaborating with partners, such as the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and Department of Transport, providing support from our fire forensic investigation team to support any post-crash investigations, or support following air infrastructure fires
• conduct incident debriefs at both local and corporate levels to learn from incidents and continuously improve our response efforts
   

Ports

Ports deal with a wide variety of cargo, some of which may be hazardous or flammable. The uncertain nature of the cargo and the restricted access can make it difficult to contain and put out fires in storage spaces or cargo containers.

The size and layout of ports can make accessing and controlling fires challenging. Limited access roads, tight spaces, and the need to work around cranes and other moving traffic can hinder firefighting efforts.

Kent is home to a number of ports, including the Port of Dover, one of the world’s busiest maritime passenger ports. Situated some 21 miles from France, the Port of Dover handles more than 11.7 million passengers, over two million lorries, cars and motorcycles, and 80,000 coaches each year.

Events in the port can have a considerable impact on the infrastructure of the surrounding towns and roads. This can extend throughout the county, such as for example, the M20 motorway being frequently used as a holding area.

Ships

Fires aboard ships, whether alongside in a port or at sea, can be challenging and it is important to safely remove passengers and crew from the vessel.

There are risks involved in gaining access and safely moving around a ship. This is due to complex layouts, confined spaces and changing stability of the vessel.

Ships often carry fuel, chemicals, and other hazardous materials including cargo that can escalate the severity of the fire. Fires on ships can burn for long periods due to the restricted access, inadequate ventilation, and severity of the fire, resulting in major damage to the vessel and significant impacts on the environment. Depending on the type of fire, considerable resources are likely to be required to extinguish a ship fire.

• collaborate with port authorities and other relevant stakeholders to develop comprehensive emergency response plans 
• conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential hazards and vulnerabilities within the port. 
• provide regular training and education on ports and ships to our colleagues
• provide specialised training to firefighters and rescue personnel on dealing with port-specific incidents
• we have specialised firefighting and rescue equipment designed for port-related incidents
• established mutual aid agreements with neighbouring fire and rescue services to ensure adequate resources and support are available during large-scale incidents 
• work closely with partner regulatory bodies 
• conduct routine regulatory inspections of port facilities to ensure compliance with safety standards

• ensure well-trained firefighters with appropriate equipment are deployed promptly to respond to emergencies
• prevention, protection, and response colleagues conduct post-incident community work after fires
• collaborate with partners, such as the police, through our fire forensic investigation team to determine the causes of fires and identify emerging trends

Incidents involving railways and trains can have a significant impact on the UK infrastructure and economy. Kent has the high-speed rail link to London as well as the Eurostar. Incidents involving railways and trains can vary from trackside fires to major train derailments.

Due to the geographical nature of Kent, railway/train incidents are likely to occur in a remote rural location. This poses additional risks and access issues for attending crews. Due to these, extra resources will be required along with specialist vehicles and the Technical Rescue Team, putting additional demand on our resources.

Over the past five years Kent Fire and Rescue Service has attended over 170 incidents involving the railway or trains.

• maintain well defined and understood safety procedures for working on or near the railway
• work with rail operators to ensure quick access to safe systems of work, control over the railway and specialist advice
• maintain a range of off-road vehicles capable of accessing remote locations on the railway
   

• undertake early liaison with the rail operator to ensure, where required, power is isolated, and trains are stopped or run under caution
• appoint safety officers
• provide specialist rescue equipment in the case of incidents involving rescue, such as a person under a train or a derailment
• where necessary, work with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch in support of their investigation
   

The likelihood of bridge collapse in Kent is very low. In 2016 there was a bridge collapse on the M20 after a lorry carrying a digger hit the bridge. No one was seriously injured but the motorway remained shut for some time.

Stringent construction standards and well-defined traffic regulations helps to ensure the risk is kept very low. However, Kent does have many bridges both in rural locations and crossing the strategic road network. Additionally, the county is home to large bridges including the Dartford Crossing and Sheppey Crossing. Bridges are also located along the railway network.

Should a bridge collapse, there is not only the risk of traffic disruption but also the risk of persons becoming trapped. We have an Urban Search and Rescue team in Kent that can rescue people from collapsed structures and can also assist with emergency stability and shoring operations.

• continue to maintain and invest in our Urban Search and Rescue team
• maintain regional and national agreements for mutual aid and support to be able to bring on additional specialist teams at short notice
• utilise our relationships with colleagues in Local Authority building control departments to be able to draw on specialist advice in structural stability
   

• we provide a range of monitoring equipment to be able to monitor for signs of structural collapse, locate casualties and gain access
• we send our Urban Search and Rescue team and, where necessary, call on support from other Urban Search and Rescue teams across the country
• we have access to a range of heavy plant equipment to be able to manage and clear debris from sites