Provide water supply system training to all firefighters

Since the May 2026 report, work has continued on the development of a series of ‘micro-learn’ content. Development of the content has taken longer than expected due to the complexity of flow rate calculations, lack of adequate existing training packages within services and the lack of a competency framework to align to. Final revisions are now being reviewed by subject matter advisors. Approval was given at the Guidance and Scrutiny Panel held on 1 September 2026 with subsequent publication expected imminently.

This recommendation is now complete and has been fully discharged.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC)

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) began developing an action and delivery plan to address the recommendations. This work was informed by a survey of fire and rescue services to understand current arrangements and identify where further support might be needed. The plan was subsequently shared with key stakeholders, including MHCLG. By September 2025, the NFCC had identified water supply issues as a recurring theme in organisational learning cases, both in the UK and internationally. Services were asked to share existing learning materials on water supply systems and hydrants, alongside detailed consideration of whether national guidance or learning materials needed to be strengthened. Services were also invited to share wider learning for potential publication on the FRS Learn platform.

At the time of our December progress report, only limited learning materials had been received, suggesting a gap in training provision on water supply and hydrants. As a result, planned publication on FRS Learn was delayed. The materials received, along with proposals to address the identified gaps, were considered by the Operational Training and Education Group om 6 January 2026. It has been agreed that a series of “micro learn” content will be developed and published and learning materials from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service will be uploaded to FRS Learn before the end of March 2026.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB)

‎In September 2025 mandatory e‑learning on water management and planning had been rolled out to all station‑based staff and level 2 officers. While more than 80% of staff had completed the training, completion of the required knowledge check was lower. Officers were working with area leads to increase both overall completion and knowledge check results, with a target of reaching 90% by the end of the year. This learning was supported by face‑to‑face training delivered by the Central Training Team.

By December, completion rates had improved significantly. More than 90% of staff had completed both the e‑learning modules and the knowledge check to the required standard. The training programme, combining online and in‑person learning, was complete. LFB had completed its work on these recommendations, while the NFCC will continue to report on progress at a national level.

The LFB Business Assurance team will also be conducting a review of the GTI 2 improvement activity, commencing in early 2026, and will be completed and a report submitted by the end of Q4, 2025/26.

LFB is also engaging with the broader NFCC GTI 2 assurance workshop programme, and the LFB workshop is scheduled to take place in February 2026. The workshop will provide an insight into how other fire and rescue services are approaching the GTI 2 recommendations and provide assurance that the LFB approach is effective and sustainable.