Introduction

The highest priority for fire and rescue services at an incident will always be the safety of the public, personnel and other emergency responders. They must also consider potential damage to the environment, whether caused by the incident or the response to it.

Effective and informed action, taken by personnel or other emergency responders, can reduce the environmental impact of incidents and protect public safety. This guidance sets out the hazards that may be encountered and the control measures that should be considered to protect the environment. It does not provide information on the specific risks from hazardous materials, which can be found in the Hazardous materials guidance.

This guidance is supported by the Foundation for environmental protection, which was jointly produced by the environmental agencies and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).