Jersey’s fire service “lacks the capacity and capability to deliver its statutory duties safely and effectively”, according to a damning watchdog report which warned the government is tolerating “significant risks” to public safety.

A report by Comptroller and Auditor General Lynn Pamment paints a troubling picture of a service facing extreme operational risks, funding delays and weak strategic planning, despite repeated warnings dating back several years.

The audit into the States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service concluded that the government has continued to accept major risks to the island’s emergency response capability while failing to put in place a clear strategy to address them.

The report warns that the government “continues to demonstrate a high level of tolerance of significant risks” in relation to the fire service.

“Extreme risks”

The emergency service is responsible for responding to around 1,100 emergencies every year – including fires, road traffic collisions, hazardous materials incidents, rescues and medical call-outs.

However, the audit found the service is currently operating with a large number of “extreme risks”, many of which cannot be addressed in the short term under existing arrangements.

Among the most concerning findings is a corporate-level risk identified by officials themselves – that the fire service “lacks the capacity and capability to deliver its statutory duties safely and effectively”.

Despite these warnings, action has been slow. Risks were first formally raised with the Home Affairs Minister in 2021, but additional funding was not incorporated into the fire service budget until 2023 to begin addressing the problems.

Even now, the watchdog warns that the extra money will take years to have an impact and may still be insufficient to eliminate many of the risks.

Budget not being used to address risks

The audit also raises concerns about how the service is being managed. The Fire Service’s Community Risk Management Plan – the key document setting out priorities – focuses heavily on operational response but gives less attention to training, leadership, staffing and financial management.

The plan also lacks clear performance targets, making it difficult to judge whether improvements are being delivered.

Financial management has also come under scrutiny. While the service overspent its 2025 budget by a modest £35,000, auditors found that large staff vacancies meant hundreds of thousands of pounds saved on salaries were instead diverted to other spending.

“In practice, staff vacancy savings have been used to fund non-pay expenditure,” wrote Ms Pamment.

“In overall terms, the budget is not being used to address identified service delivery risks.”

The report warns that the budget is not currently being used to tackle the most serious risks facing the service.

In some areas, safety concerns remain unresolved. The audit highlights that retained firefighters still only have one set of personal protective equipment, which is described as a “health and safety risk”.

Emergency control centre concerns

Key digital projects – including systems designed to provide crews with vital incident information – have also been delayed, leaving important risk-reduction measures unfinished.

Meanwhile, a specialist review of the fire service’s emergency control centre found serious weaknesses.

Out of ten operational areas assessed, seven were rated “inadequate” and three “requiring improvement”, with the audit warning that the gaps pose risks to public safety and operational performance.

Despite the criticism, the report notes that some progress has been made. Recruitment has improved and new senior officers from the UK have been brought in to strengthen leadership.

But Ms Pamment warned the service still has a long way to go – starting from a “weak foundation”.

“While additional resources have allowed the recruitment of more full-time firefighters, much remains to be done to enable a more effective service response and to eliminate occasions where there has been no available capacity,” she added.

The report concludes that the fire service urgently needs a clear strategic plan with measurable targets and defined risk mitigation.

Ms Pamment also suggested that a specialist advisory board could be created to enhance oversight arrangements for the service.