FOI release

Impact of annual firefighter fitness tests on Fire Engine Availability

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference FOI2025/00965

Received 4 September 2025

Published 17 October 2025

Request

Please may I ask how many operational frontline firefighters ranked from Firefighter to Station Officer have been placed on light duties and are unavailable to crew fire appliances following the introduction of the new annual fitness test for firefighters by the Paddington Fitness Team, and how many fire engine crews this equates to for each watch? Please could you explain the shift by shift (Watch by Watch) impact on Fire Engine availability across Greater London that the number of firefighters failing the new annual fitness test and being placed on Light Duties is having? Specifically in relation to the number of Pumping Appliances, Fire Rescue Units and Turntable Ladder Aerial Appliances per shift that would have otherwise been crewed and available prior to firefighters including those with key specialist skills, undertaking and failing the new annual fitness test.

Response

Please see the response in the link below.

Documents

• FOIA response for disclosure log - FOI2025_00965 RESPONSE.pdf (72.5 KB)

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