Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service (BFRS) has launched a public consultation on proposals to modernise and strengthen its On-Call fire cover across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.
The consultation received approval by Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority at its meeting on Wednesday 12 November 2025.
You can review the proposals in full, along with the evidence pack covering how they were developed, what they could mean locally, and how feedback will be used in decision-making, at www.bucksfire.gov.uk/on-call-consultation.
Why we are consulting
Across the county, the way people live and work has changed. Recruiting and keeping On-Call firefighters has become more difficult, and the availability of our On-Call fire engines has fallen, from more than 50 per cent a decade ago to less than 15 per cent today.
At the same time, 99.7 per cent of emergencies can be dealt with using 12 wholetime fire engines, which are always crewed and ready to respond (wholetime fire engines are not affected by the proposals).
These proposals aim to make sure every firefighter, fire engine, and specialist vehicle is used where it can make the greatest difference to community safety.
What’s being proposed
The consultation asks for views on proposals to:
- Remove seven On‑Call fire engines from stations with persistently low availability.
- Replace some of the removed fire engines with On-Call crewed specialist vehicles (Rural Firefighting Units, Crew Welfare Unit, Water Carrier) to better match modern risks.
- Close two dormant stations: Great Missenden and Stokenchurch.
- Retain and reinvest in 11 On‑Call fire engines, improving training, facilities, and resilience.
- Seek views on giving the Chief Fire Officer greater operational independence for faster, evidence-led decisions on resource deployment (not station closures).
The proposals do not involve any reductions to wholetime fire engine numbers or firefighters.
Chief Fire Officer Louise Harrison said:
“Our focus will always be the safety of our communities. These proposals are about ensuring we have the right people, in the right place, with the right equipment to meet the risks of today and tomorrow.
We know that some of our On-Call fire engines have become increasingly difficult to crew, and we want to work with our communities to find solutions that keep our cover strong and reliable.”
Chair of the Fire Authority, Councillor Llew Monger added:
“The Fire Authority’s role is to ensure proposals like these follow proper democratic governance and are in the best interests of our communities.
“We act as both guardians of the public purse and critical friends to the Service, providing challenge where needed, while trusting the professional expertise of our officers.
“This consultation is part of that process, ensuring the public has a clear voice in how we maintain a safe, effective and sustainable fire and rescue service.”
Have your say
The consultation runs for 10 weeks, closing on 28 January 2026. Take part online at www.bucksfire.gov.uk/on-call-consultation or request a paper copy from OIP@bucksfire.gov.uk.
Summary – Key points around the consultation:
- You can give your views for 10 weeks from Wednesday 19 November 2025.
- Focus is On-Call fire cover only.
- No reductions to wholetime firefighters or appliances.
- Two dormant On-Call stations proposed for closure.
- Seeking views on increased Chief Fire Officer flexibility to be able to make operational decisions when necessary.
- Aims to support delivery of a modern, reliable and resilient fire and rescue service for all communities.