England’s fire stations are deteriorating due to a £1 billion funding shortage, according to leaders.

Fire stations in England are on the verge of deterioration, with funding having dropped by roughly £1 billion in the last ten years and emergency call responses having risen by 20% as reported by fire chiefs. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is urging the government not to overlook the fire and rescue services during its upcoming spending review, warning that inadequate funding could endanger both the public and firefighters as services currently operate with fewer staff amidst growing pressures. Despite emergency call demands increasing, firefighter numbers have decreased by a quarter in seven years, and services struggle to maintain or modernise ageing infrastructure due to the loss of significant grants in 2014-15. The NFCC emphasizes the critical need for investment in fire services, which face increasing challenges from more frequent and complex emergencies such as wildfires and flooding, and are currently the main response to major weather-related incidents. The government acknowledges the challenges but has affirmed its commitment to supporting public services, stating that nearly £3 billion was provided in the last financial year to fund such services.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/04/fire-stations-in-england-falling-apart-amid-1bn-funding-cut-chiefs-say