Fire services develop evacuation policies and training
Fire and rescue services develop policies for partial and total evacuation of high-rise residential buildings and training to support them.
- National Evacuation Guidelines were published on 5 February 2024 (National Evacuation Guidelines for Fire and Rescue Services, MHCLG, February 2024).
- The government's Phase 1 progress report stated this recommendation is complete, with all 43 fire and rescue services having completed training on evacuation policies (Quarterly Thematic Update, MHCLG, February 2025).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe government accepted in principle all the Phase 1 recommendations directed at central government. The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick presented the formal response to Parliament on 21 January 2020, committing to swift and decisive action including new duties on building owners and managers to provide information to fire and rescue services, install premises information boxes, conduct regular inspections of lifts and fire doors, and equip buildings with evacuation signal facilities. The government stated it had already taken action in advance of the report and was actively looking beyond the remit of these recommendations.
The National Fire Chiefs Council accepted all Phase 1 recommendations directed to it. NFCC committed to developing national guidance and training products across all 43 fire and rescue services in England, covering external wall fire risks, fire survival guidance procedures, evacuation policies, and smoke hood deployment.
Progress Timeline
Status for fire and rescue services: complete. All 43 fire and rescue services have completed training on evacuation policies. Status for London Fire Brigade: complete.