London Fire Brigade: Strategy Review

The London Fire Brigade provides the City with an emergency response service from 102 Fire Stations.  In addition to attending fires the London Fire Brigade also responds to a wide variety of other types of incidents including road traffic accidents, chemical spills, flooding, underground emergencies, etc.

To support the Fire Stations the Brigade operates a Distribution Centre, a Service Centre for protective equipment, and six vehicles strategically located that carry specialist equipment. 

As part of a strategic review, Davies & Robson were asked to:

• Review the warehouse and transport operations and resources currently used
• Identify potential efficiencies and opportunities to rationalise the resources and sites
• Assist in creating an ‘over-arching’ integrated system of distribution to support the Fire Stations including the coordination of deliveries from third parties
• Define the optimal sites, staff, and resources needed

Davies & Robson evaluated a series of options and concluded that the optimum solution was the creation of a single Centre able to perform the following functions:

• Storage of specialist equipment and consumables
• Servicing protective equipment
• Acting as a transport hub with daily deliveries to all Fire Stations

Following the completion of the strategy review, Davies & Robson were asked to advise on the location and layout of a suitable site.