Definition
Incident
An incident is any event requiring attendance by the fire and rescue service, including fires, road traffic collisions, flooding, chemical spills, rescues, and medical emergencies. Incidents are categorised by type and severity to inform resource planning, response standards, and performance reporting.
Related Terms
- Fire DrillGeneral Fire SafetyA fire drill is a planned practice evacuation of a building conducted to test emergency procedures, familiarise occupants with evacuation routes and assembly points, and assess fire warden performance. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and BS 9999, fire drills should be held at least annually — more frequently for high-risk or high-turnover premises — and outcomes, including evacuation times and any failures, must be recorded.View definition
- Fire Emergency PlanGeneral Fire SafetyA fire emergency plan is a documented set of procedures describing how occupants should respond to a fire alarm — including evacuation routes, assembly points, fire warden roles, arrangements for persons needing assistance (PEEPs), and how to call the fire and rescue service. Required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and informed by the fire risk assessment, it must be communicated to all staff and reviewed regularly.View definition
- Fire Warden
Frequently Asked Questions
An incident is any event requiring attendance by the fire and rescue service, including fires, road traffic collisions, flooding, chemical spills, rescues, and medical emergencies. Incidents are categorised by type and severity to inform resource planning, response standards, and performance reporting.
Requirements for incident in the UK depend on the type of premises and applicable legislation, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and relevant British Standards. The responsible person for a premises must ensure adequate fire safety provisions are in place. The British Fire Consortium can provide guidance — contact our team or search our member directory to find a qualified specialist.
Incident and Fire Drill are related fire safety concepts but serve different purposes. See our individual glossary entries for detailed definitions. For expert guidance on which applies to your premises, consult a BFC member company.
The British Fire Consortium offers EAL Level 3 accredited training covering fire safety systems including topics related to incident. Our courses are the only nationally recognised Level 3 qualifications across all fire disciplines. View our training courses or use the member directory to find a qualified trainer near you.