Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue response review engagement

Why we're proposing changes

We want to improve the way we respond to fire and rescue emergencies in Lincolnshire. We’d like to know your views and opinions on our proposals.

There are three reasons we’re carrying out this review:

1. Some of our shift patterns are based on historic arrangements and are no longer sustainable. They don't allow us to use resources effectively and efficiently
2. The risks and demands we face are changing over time. We need to make sure our resources are there when they're needed most
3. The current way we do things limits who can apply for some jobs because of where people live and work patterns. We need to modernise to
   • be more flexible
   • make us more inclusive
   • continue to attract and keep the best possible firefighters

What we've done so far

We have looked at data about the type of incidents we face, and how we respond.

We’ve listened to staff feedback as part of this process.

We considered a range of options, including keeping things as they are and various fire station crewing arrangements. We have decided against a number of options because they don’t align with:

• Improving our performance
• Ensuring our workforce in the right place at the right time
• Ensuring out specialist capabilities are in the right place based on demand risk and availability

More information

There are some frequently asked questions in the important documents section if you would like to know more.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue employs two types of firefighters:

• Wholetime firefighters work full‑time, based at a fire station as their main job
• On‑call firefighters live or work close to a fire station and respond when needed, alongside their usual job and home life

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue uses a combination of both roles to provide cover across its 38 fire stations.

Our proposals

We think the best approach could be to:

• Employ 20 more wholetime firefighters
• Keep 24 hours a day, seven days per week wholetime cover at Lincoln South
• Increase cover at Grantham so it also has 24 hours a day, seven days per week wholetime cover
• Keep the other stations operating seven days per week, with more wholetime firefighters available when demand is higher, and have on-call cover outside these times in:
  1. Boston
  2. Gainsborough
  3. Lincoln North
  4. Louth
  5. Skegness
  6. Sleaford
  7. Spalding
• Leave all our other 29 fire stations as they are with on-call cover

Please get involved

We’d like to know what impact the proposals could have on residents, businesses and other local organisations.

You can share your views before 5pm on Sunday 23 August 2026 by completing the survey. If you can’t take part online, please see the other ways to take part section.

What's next

If, after considering all the information and feedback, and those who make decisions about Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue agree, the next steps will be:

• Talk in much more detail to staff about how changes could affect them, and work with them on how they can help make service improvements a reality
• Start making the approved changes over time from January 2027