Date of Request
February 24
Request
Dear Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service,
Can I please request, in the form of a spreadsheet such as Excel or CSV file, information on flooding incidents attended by the fire and rescue service. I would like the information to be in relation to flooding incidents caused only by severe weather (heavy rainfall).
1. I would like the total number of flooding incidents recorded by the fire and rescue service, broken down by month, for the calendar years 2013 to 16 January 2024 2. In a separate tab I would like details of each flooding incident. Please include:
Date of incident
Time of day incident reported
Incident duration (minutes)
Location (please include longitude and latitude and local authority if available) Total number of buildings affected Total number of dwellings affected Total number of firefighters injured, seriously injured or killed
If this request cannot be met within the cost limits for Freedom of Information requests, please can you provide me with advice and assistance on how I may refine my request.
Yours faithfully,
Response
Dear X
Thank you for your request for information, which has been received by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (the Service) and considered under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.
The Service can confirm the answers to your questions as attached. However, please note:
- Incident location is recorded as Easting and Northing only, and when responding to FOI we release the first 4 digits out of 6 recorded in the Incident Recording System.
- The number of properties that have been affected by a severe weather event is currently not recorded in the Incident Recording System.
- The occurrence of a severe weather event is currently not recorded in the Incident Recording System. However, a graph has been created so that this can be easily selected by looking at peaks in the time series.
- Flooding affecting buildings can be internal and external; there is no separation currently available in the Incident Recording System.
- Location of incidents using Local Authority Boundaries was done using a geospatial analysis (incident coordinates were assigned to a specific area), but this is not recorded in the Incident Recording System and required an extra effort to provide.
- There were no firefighter injuries.
If you have any questions regarding your request, please contact Information Governance and Committee Services on tel: 0345 122 4454 or by e-mail informationrequests@hwfire.org.uk. In any such communication please include the reference number assigned (see Subject).
Should you have any queries regarding the management of your request and wish to make either a complaint or request a review of the information disclosed to you, please do so by using Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s complaints system: Comments and Complaints. This must be done within 40 working days of our response to your request. After this date and in line with ICO guidance the Service is not obliged to provide an internal review of your request.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you may appeal the decision by contacting the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF, Tel: 0303 123 1113 (alternatively 01625 545745) or E-mail: casework@ico.org.uk.
Further information on Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service may be viewed at the Service’s website: www.hwfire.org.uk
Thank you for your request for information.
Kind regards
Information Governance Team