FOI Request 2269

Subject: Shift Pattern and Start Times for Wholetime Stations

Status: Complete

Date received: December 2025

Question Asked:

I have a general enquiry. I am wondering what shift pattern Cheshire wholetime stations are currently doing? Please could you let me know the shift pattern, the start times and how the hours are split that are completed.

For Example: Northumberland: 2s-4 shift pattern, split into 10 hour days (0800-1800) and 14 hour nights (1800-0800).

Our Response:

CFRS operate a number of shift patterns across the wholetime duty system as follows:

Optimum Crewing - Shift pattern is four on four off comprising two days followed by two nights. These are twelve hour shifts with shift changes at 08:00 and 20:00.

Day Crewed - Self rostering Wholetime Firefighters on station Mon-Fri 09:00-19:00, with On-Call cover outside these hours provided by the same Wholetime Firefighters who are contracted as part of their duty agreement.

Nucleus - Wholetime Firefighters on station daily 07:00-19:00. One Nucleus station works a pattern of three on three off.  Two Nucleus stations share a pattern of two on, two off, three on, two off, two on, three off.

Weekday Crewing - Wholetime Firefighters on station Mon-Thu 09:30-18:00 and Friday 09:30-17:30.

Outcome: Information Provided

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO