London Fire Brigade

Operations Management

The London Fire Brigade territory covers Britain’s major capital city - home to the British parliament, British and European financial centres and Royal Palaces. London’s World Heritage Sites include the Palace of Westminster, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

Around 7.5 million people live in London. The population is expected to grow by nearly 10% by 2016, rising to 8.1 million. People moving into London are mostly young adults. Around 16% of the population are aged 60 years and over and around 25% are aged 19 years or younger.

The London Underground is the world’s largest underground network serving three million passengers each day. London is also the home to City and Heathrow Airports and the UK's busiest rail terminals.

In February 2001, AssetCo was awarded a 20-year PFI contract by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) to provide a range of outsourced support services, including the ownership and management of operational vehicles and equipment.

Specifically, AssetCo procures and delivers the fleet and equipment to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), enabling efficiencies for over 500 appliances and support vehicles, two fire boats and 50,000 items of operational equipment. 

AssetCo manages the operational availability of all of the frontline Fire and Rescue vehicles and operational equipment used at the 113 London fire stations.

The London Fire Brigade is the largest dedicated Fire and Rescue Service in the world with approximately 7,000 staff.  LFB accounts for 20% of all UK fire spend.  AssetCo's operational support is delivered across all LFB fire stations 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

"Since the award of the 20-year PFI contract in 2001, AssetCo Fire and Rescue have continued to deliver operational improvements to the London Fire Brigade through their unrivalled understanding of the Fire and Rescue Service, and their ability to adapt and assist us in the challenges we have faced."

Recruitment, Training and Provision of Firefighting Crews

In July 2009, AssetCo was awarded a 7-year contract to provide the London Fire Brigade with up to 700 staff, trained to provide a support firefighting service.  This is the first major contract of its nature to be outsourced by a UK Fire and Rescue Service, and was awarded to AssetCo following a competitive tendering process.

Our reserve firefighters were recruited and fully trained to provide contingency to London Fire Brigade in the event of extreme situations such as pandemic illness or flooding.

Our crews are available for immediate deployment with crew competency maintained through continuous professional development.