FOI Request 2303

Subject: Incidents at Sites Linked to Cannabis Cultivation

Status: Complete

Date received: February 2026

Question Asked:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would be grateful if you could provide the following information.

1. Incidents at sites linked to cannabis cultivation

For each calendar year from 2015 to the most recent complete year available, please provide the number of incidents attended by your service where the property or site was confirmed or suspected to be associated with cannabis cultivation.

These incidents may involve, but are not limited to, fires, electrical faults, rescues, or emergency responses at sites where cannabis cultivation was identified or suspected.

If providing data for the full period from 2015 would exceed the cost limit under Section 12 of the Act, please instead provide the figures for the most recent five calendar years.

Numeric totals only are requested; no personal or incident-level detail is required.

2. Policies, procedures, or operational guidance

Please confirm whether your service holds any written policies, procedures, operational guidance, or risk assessment documentation relating to attending fires or other emergencies at sites used, or suspected to be used, for cannabis cultivation.

If so, I would be grateful if you could:

• Provide a web link to the relevant material, or

• Attach copies of the documents to your response, or

• Confirm if the material is exempt from disclosure and specify the relevant exemption(s).

Our Response:

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

1. Incidents at sites linked to cannabis cultivation

For each calendar year from 2015 to the most recent complete year available, please provide the number of incidents attended by your service where the property or site was confirmed or suspected to be associated with cannabis cultivation.

These incidents may involve, but are not limited to, fires, electrical faults, rescues, or emergency responses at sites where cannabis cultivation was identified or suspected.

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

We looked at the possibility of completing a key word search using the word “cannabis” however, this would then bring back everything related to cannabis e.g. a road traffic collision where cannabis was found. This would then also require a manual review of every incident to then be able to identify any that related to cultivation of cannabis.

2. Policies, procedures, or operational guidance

Please confirm whether your service holds any written policies, procedures, operational guidance, or risk assessment documentation relating to attending fires or other emergencies at sites used, or suspected to be used, for cannabis cultivation.

If so, I would be grateful if you could:

• Provide a web link to the relevant material, or

• Attach copies of the documents to your response, or

• Confirm if the material is exempt from disclosure and specify the relevant exemption(s).

We do not have a specific policy or procedure relating to fires where cannabis cultivation was identified.

Where cultivation is identified we notify the Police. It may be worth if you have not already done so contacting the police to ascertain if they can assist.

Outcome: Partial Data Held

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO