FOI Request 2179

Subject: Pet Safety in the Home

Status: Complete

Date received: June 2025

Question Asked:

I’m currently researching the topic of pet safety in the home and would love to get some information around protocol, procedures and regulations regarding pet rescue when it comes to an emergency situation.

I have listed my questions below and would really appreciate any information you could provide about your local area.

• How often are animals present at the scenes of fire call outs? EG: 1 out of every 4, on average 4 out of 20 call outs weekly, etc.

• What is the number of animals - including pets - that have been reported as involved (either rescued, injured, or killed) in fire incidents over the past three calendar years (May 2022 - May 2025)

• On average, how many fire call outs per year involve animals that are present at the scene (either inside or outside a building) when there is no person present?

• What protocols or procedures do fire services follow when responding to a fire where the presence of animals is unknown?

• What procedures do fire fighters follow if they know an animal is in the building?

• Do fire services have tailored protocols for handling various animals that people consider pets - such as dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, or small mammals - when responding to a fire?

• Do fire crews receive training on how to rescue animals from fires?

• Other than being informed by the individual reporting the incident, are there any existing systems, technology or procedures that alert fire services to the presence of animals inside a house - either before a fire or other emergency is reported, which requires the fire service’s attendance?

• To what extent would advance knowledge of the presence, quantity, and species of animals inside a building assist fire services in planning and executing their response before they reach the incident location?

• If a product was created to alert you that an animal was definitely in the property when you attend how likely would the fire service be to take this into consideration?

Our Response:

Please see our response below to your Freedom of Information Request. The Freedom of Information Act only covers recorded information, it does not cover opinion or views.

• How often are animals present at the scenes of fire call outs? EG: 1 out of every 4, on average 4 out of 20 call outs weekly, etc.

• What is the number of animals - including pets - that have been reported as involved (either rescued, injured, or killed) in fire incidents over the past three calendar years (May 2022 - May 2025)

• On average, how many fire call outs per year involve animals that are present at the scene (either inside or outside a building) when there is no person present?

  Currently the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Incident Recording System has insufficient facilities for the comprehensive recording, and subsequent analysis, of the animal data you have requested. Therefore, due to the specific information asked for, CFRS cannot provide the data requested.

• What protocols or procedures do fire services follow when responding to a fire where the presence of animals is unknown?

  Currently the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Incident Recording System has insufficient facilities for the comprehensive recording, and subsequent analysis, of the animal data you have requested. Therefore, due to the specific information asked for, CFRS cannot provide the data requested.

• What procedures do fire fighters follow if they know an animal is in the building?

  The procedures followed will be laid out in Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Animal Rescue SOP and Animal Rescue Training Policy. If the incident is a fire related incident this is in conjunction with fire incident related policies.

• Do fire services have tailored protocols for handling various animals that people consider pets - such as dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, or small mammals - when responding to a fire?

  Yes.

• Do fire crews receive training on how to rescue animals from fires?

  Yes.

• Other than being informed by the individual reporting the incident, are there any existing systems, technology or procedures that alert fire services to the presence of animals inside a house - either before a fire or other emergency is reported, which requires the fire service’s attendance?

  In the vast majority of cases, yes, unless it has been determined through prior information gathering and it has been determined to include that information for responding crews upon mobilisation

• To what extent would advance knowledge of the presence, quantity, and species of animals inside a building assist fire services in planning and executing their response before they reach the incident location?

  Information not held.

• If a product was created to alert you that an animal was definitely in the property when you attend how likely would the fire service be to take this into consideration?

  Information not held.

Outcome: Information Provided

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO