FOI Request 2216

Subject: Blue Light Vehicles, Recent Emergency Callout Quantities and Wait Times

Status: Complete

Date received: August 2025

Question Asked:

I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please provide the following data, specifically in relation to relevant ‘blue light’ vehicles for emergency callouts for the entity:

1. Call out quantities // the number of emergency call outs that resulted in a ‘blue light’ vehicle being sent to scene (e.g. fire incidents only, not including special service) - broken down by each individual date in a recent 12-month period

2. Average wait times // the average wait time for emergency call outs, duration between receiving the call to a ‘blue light’ vehicle arriving on scene (e.g. fire incidents only, not including special service) - broken down for each individual date in a recent 12-month period

3. Vehicle units in fleet // the total number of ‘blue light’ vehicles in the current fleet (as of 27/08/2025) and how many were in the fleet on of 27/08/2024

4. Units out of action // the total number of ‘blue light’ vehicles in the current fleet that have been ‘out of action’ at any point and for any reason during 2025 to date (up to 27/08/2025), plus the total number that were ‘out of action’ on 27/08/2025 (if any)

Date considerations:

- If a recent 12-month period has been requested, please use 28/08/2024 - 27/08/2025 where possible.

*If this date range is not available, please use the most recent consecutive 12-month period with data available (and confirm what range has been used in this case)

Our Response:

Please see our response below to your Freedom of Information Request.

Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act allows authorities to refuse to provide information that is already publicly available. The information that you have requested can be obtained using the links provided below. 

1. Call out quantities // the number of emergency call outs that resulted in a ‘blue light’ vehicle being sent to scene (e.g. fire incidents only, not including special service) - broken down by each individual date in a recent 12-month period

2. Average wait times // the average wait time for emergency call outs, duration between receiving the call to a ‘blue light’ vehicle arriving on scene (e.g. fire incidents only, not including special service) - broken down for each individual date in a recent 12-month period

The data requested for questions 1 and 2 can be found at the link below:

Fire statistics data tables - GOV.UK

The tables which hold the data requested are as follows:

Incidents attended – FIRE0102

Response Times – FIRE1001

You can simply filter the data by Fire and Rescue Authority to identify figures for Cheshire.

3. Vehicle units in fleet // the total number of ‘blue light’ vehicles in the current fleet (as of 27/08/2025) and how many were in the fleet on of 27/08/2024

4. Units out of action // the total number of ‘blue light’ vehicles in the current fleet that have been ‘out of action’ at any point and for any reason during 2025 to date (up to 27/08/2025), plus the total number that were ‘out of action’ on 27/08/2025 (if any)

Details of our fleet can be found on our Website:

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service - Vehicles

Outcome: Referred to Website

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO