4. Major industry
Review firefighting tactics and operational policy to take advantage of the latest firefighting technologies and innovations.
Improve customer awareness of safe battery disposal.
Review firefighting tactics and operational policy to take advantage of the latest firefighting technologies and innovations.
Fires involving major industry, and in particularly waste sites, can be time consuming, hazardous, and costly. In our delivery plan we committed to researching and taking advantage of the latest firefighting technologies and innovations to improve our response to these incidents.
Over the course of the last year, we have been researching these technologies and have invested in a firefighting robot. This is a small tracked unit equipped with a large water nozzle and thermal imaging system. It can also be equipped with gas monitoring equipment. It is operated remotely by a single operator.
The robot:
- can be deployed into hazardous areas (for example where cylinders are present), reducing or removing the need to commit firefighters
- can operate for extended periods, reducing the need to use many firefighters who need to be rotated to rest and recuperate
- went into operational service in March 2025 and has already been deployed to several large incidents, reducing the risk to firefighters and the need for resources
- has been used particularly successfully in conjunction with our drones.
We will be undertaking an initial 12-month review of the robot deployments, evaluating the cost versus benefit, after which we will determine if further investment in this technology will be beneficial.
Improve customer awareness of safe battery disposal
In recent years, the number of fires linked to batteries, specifically lithium-ion has increased in the UK. These types of batteries are commonly found in a range of rechargeable household devices such as smartphones, laptops, e-bikes and e-scooters. Results from a survey carried out by an insurance provider in 2024 found that 1 in 9 respondents had experienced a fire or explosion in their home due to a lithium-ion battery or device. Improper charging practices are a significant contributor to these fires.
To tackle these increasing fire risks, we're developing a prevention programme specifically targeting unsafe charging habits. We will also be talking with local authorities to explore how we can make it easier for everyone to dispose of old batteries safely and conveniently.