(Image: WYFRS)
A fire service serving Bradford has been praised after a recent inspection.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) received a "good" rating in eight out of ten areas in its latest review by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
The other two areas were rated “adequate” - preventing fires and other risks, and promoting and improving values and culture.
It was the service’s fourth inspection of its effectiveness, efficiency and staff support.
HMICFRS found the service was performing well overall but said some areas still needed improvement.
'Service isn’t always meeting its own timescales for visiting the people at highest risk'
In the report, Michelle Skeer, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services, said: "I am pleased with the performance of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks.
"However, it needs to improve in some areas to provide a consistently good service.
"For example, there is still evidence that the service isn’t always meeting its own timescales for visiting the people at highest risk.
"The service needs to assure itself that it is consistently reaching those most at risk in a timely manner."
How much the fire service costs us
WYFRS covers a predominantly urban area spanning 784 square miles and serves a growing population of 2.4 million people.
The service operates under the governance of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority.
In the year to March 31, 2025, the service cost £43.78 per person, below the national average of £51.72.
Progress made since last report
Inspectors praised WYFRS’s financial management, saying its plans match its priorities and provide value for money.
Ms Skeer said: "We were pleased to find that the service had made progress since our 2024 inspection.
"The service has worked well, and we have closed five of the seven areas for improvement that we identified.
"We recognise that the service has carried out a lot of work to address all seven areas for improvement.
"However, there are two enduring areas where the service needs to do more work."
What else was uncovered in the report?
The report highlighted several strengths, including effective governance and strategic oversight, good risk understanding and strong financial planning.
Senior leaders were described as positive role models who promote a constructive culture through their behaviour.
Inspectors also praised its investment in staff welfare and firefighter safety.
However, the inspectorate said WYFRS remains "adequate" in fire prevention and needs to ensure it delivers "safe and well" visits to high-risk individuals within its target timescales.
The service meets its customer service standards in 90 per cent of cases, but inspectors said it must be more consistent.
Response times
The service’s response standards are set out in its Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP).
The targets are seven minutes for very high-risk areas, eight minutes for high-risk areas and 10 minutes for low-risk areas.
Data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) showed that the service’s average response time to primary fires in the year ending March 31, 2026, was nine minutes and 55 seconds.
This is slower than the average for predominantly urban services, which stands at eight minutes and one second.
The report blamed the increase largely on a 30-second rise in drive time caused by tighter station security.
Despite this, WYFRS was rated "good" in its response to major and multi-agency incidents.
Solid understanding of future financial challenges
In 2026/27, the service’s net revenue budget is £123.2 million, funded by £62.8 million from council tax, £27.3 million from business rates, and £33 million from revenue support and other grants.
That is £50.58 per person.
The inspectorate said the service has a solid understanding of future financial challenges and plans to mitigate key risks.
WYFRS was also rated “good” for training, workforce planning, fairness and diversity, and leadership.
The inspectorate said senior leaders are effectively communicating the aims and objectives of the CRMP to staff at all levels.
The service was last inspected in 2024, with improvements noted in several key areas since then.
WYFRS has addressed five of the seven improvement areas identified in the previous inspection and is still working on the other two.
Inspectors said the service had made significant progress but urged it to keep tackling the outstanding issues.