53e60570-c722-4d92-8ebb-148b223340ea_GCC_4756_GFRS_CRMP_2025-2030_Accessible_Version_Dev9__1_-artifacted.pdf — PaddleOCR-VL (Baidu)

How we currently resource to large and small vehicle fire risks	Future challenges
Prevention: As a member of the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, we take a lead for road safety education as part of the Safe Systems Approach, and we use both national and local trends to prioritise our prevention activity. GFRS works closely with the PCC and the NFCC to support preventative and educational road safety initiatives throughout the year. SkillZONE is the county's only purpose-built, interactive safety education centre. Designed as a life-size indoor village, it features realistic home, community, road, cyber, and criminal justice zones. Immersive, scenario-based learning experiences for people of all ages, are held here with a particular focus on children and young people. From here we deliver safety education and bespoke programmes for schools, community groups, and individuals. Topics include fire safety, road safety, water safety, online safety, criminal justice, and more. The prevention team also reach out and visit local schools and sixth form with road safety and driver safety educational content and attend local community events. We actively support national campaigns as part of regular awareness raising activities and work with local partners such as district councils and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).	Any road closure has an impact on not only the vehicles and people involved but potentially all road users and the wider transport infrastructure with knock-on impacts for businesses and organisations in the county. More people mean more cars on roads, and the increasing number of alternatively powered and hybrid vehicles pose different challenges for responding fire crews. Electric charging stations at home or work are now attaching electric vehicles to buildings, working at high voltages and amps potentially adding additional risks. Electric vehicle fires can be more complex incidents and can cause significant hazards to crews attending these incidents and people and buildings nearby due to risks such as thermal runaway leading to rapid fire spread, sudden and unexpected vehicle propulsion, difficulties isolating electrical systems, moving and recovering vehicles and the potential for hazardous materials in water run-off and smoke. Lithium battery fires can currently only be 'managed' not extinguished and so can close road networks for a considerable time as the burn time is very lengthy. Lithium battery fires were noted by residents of the county as an area of concern. The road network in the county sees the movement of many larger vehicles, including international vehicles of varying load types. Fire crews may experience difficulties when dealing with incidents including international vehicles such as non-English speaking drivers or problems in identifying foreign load indicators.
Response: Our mobilisation team ascertain the fuel type of vehicles involved as this may affect the response, for example electric vehicles or dual fuel vehicles may attract an enhanced attendance of resources. Commonly one fire engine is allocated to a small vehicle fire, unless the vehicle is situated near others or to buildings. Fire spread is often rapid when associated with vehicles and as such an appropriate attendance of resources is important. Collaboration is a key aspect of any vehicle fires on highways. Incidents of this nature may require support of the police, National Highways and local authority highways to establish cordons, conduct traffic management and arrange recovery or repair of highways where necessary. Where we are aware of limited water supply nearby, we send our water carrier.

How we currently resource to large and small vehicle fire risks

Future challenges

Prevention: As a member of the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, we take a lead for road safety education as part of the Safe Systems Approach, and we use both national and local trends to prioritise our prevention activity. GFRS works closely with the PCC and the NFCC to support preventative and educational road safety initiatives throughout the year. SkillZONE is the county's only purpose-built, interactive safety education centre. Designed as a life-size indoor village, it features realistic home, community, road, cyber, and criminal justice zones. Immersive, scenario-based learning experiences for people of all ages, are held here with a particular focus on children and young people. From here we deliver safety education and bespoke programmes for schools, community groups, and individuals. Topics include fire safety, road safety, water safety, online safety, criminal justice, and more. The prevention team also reach out and visit local schools and sixth form with road safety and driver safety educational content and attend local community events. We actively support national campaigns as part of regular awareness raising activities and work with local partners such as district councils and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

Any road closure has an impact on not only the vehicles and people involved but potentially all road users and the wider transport infrastructure with knock-on impacts for businesses and organisations in the county. More people mean more cars on roads, and the increasing number of alternatively powered and hybrid vehicles pose different challenges for responding fire crews. Electric charging stations at home or work are now attaching electric vehicles to buildings, working at high voltages and amps potentially adding additional risks. Electric vehicle fires can be more complex incidents and can cause significant hazards to crews attending these incidents and people and buildings nearby due to risks such as thermal runaway leading to rapid fire spread, sudden and unexpected vehicle propulsion, difficulties isolating electrical systems, moving and recovering vehicles and the potential for hazardous materials in water run-off and smoke. Lithium battery fires can currently only be 'managed' not extinguished and so can close road networks for a considerable time as the burn time is very lengthy. Lithium battery fires were noted by residents of the county as an area of concern. The road network in the county sees the movement of many larger vehicles, including international vehicles of varying load types. Fire crews may experience difficulties when dealing with incidents including international vehicles such as non-English speaking drivers or problems in identifying foreign load indicators.

Response: Our mobilisation team ascertain the fuel type of vehicles involved as this may affect the response, for example electric vehicles or dual fuel vehicles may attract an enhanced attendance of resources. Commonly one fire engine is allocated to a small vehicle fire, unless the vehicle is situated near others or to buildings. Fire spread is often rapid when associated with vehicles and as such an appropriate attendance of resources is important. Collaboration is a key aspect of any vehicle fires on highways. Incidents of this nature may require support of the police, National Highways and local authority highways to establish cordons, conduct traffic management and arrange recovery or repair of highways where necessary. Where we are aware of limited water supply nearby, we send our water carrier.

Collaboration is a key aspect of any vehicle fires on highways. Incidents of this nature may require support of the police, National Highways and local authority highways.