Find out how the fire service records incidents in FaRDaP, what information is available free and what incurs a fee
The fire service logs every attendance in the FaRDaP system, which stands for the Fire and Rescue Data Platform. If our crews respond to an event at your property or on the public highway, those details are retained in the platform.
You may ask us simply to confirm that we attended, or you can request a more detailed file: a basic incident record or a comprehensive investigation report. Either option begins with a straightforward request from you and we will supply an incident reference number so you can track the record.
There is no charge for a written attendance confirmation: a complimentary signed note will show the time and place our crews arrived and provide the incident reference number. For many purposes—insurance queries, employer records or legal follow-up—this confirmation is sufficient.
If you need more extensive information, such as the actions taken on scene, resources used or an analysis of cause and damage, you can request a formal incident report, which may be free in a basic extract or attract a fee when a full investigation has been carried out.
What we record and why it matters
We collect incident details to satisfy national reporting obligations set out by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The data capture covers three broad categories: fires, false alarms and non-fire incidents such as road traffic collisions or flooding. Each attendance recorded in FaRDaP contributes to national statistics, helps with operational learning and supports public safety planning. Because these records serve regulatory and analytical purposes, the content is structured to show what happened, why resources were sent and what the outcome was.
Contents of a typical incident report
An incident report will normally contain the basic facts of the event, including the location and time, a list of the resources deployed, a summary of the actions taken on scene, and details about any damage. The report also records the crew’s assessment of the likely cause where that is known. For certain situations, particularly where fire origin or culpability is unclear, a more detailed fire investigation may be produced by our Fire Investigation Team or the Thames Valley Forensic Fire Scene Investigation Unit. Those in-depth reports go beyond the standard extract and are prepared after careful enquiries.
Detailed fire investigations and the associated costs
Not all cases need a full forensic inquiry; when they do, a specialist examination with photographs and extended enquiries is carried out and incurs a charge. The service price reflects the time and expertise required. Below are the standard fees for different investigation products, shown so you can decide which level of documentation meets your needs. If you request a paid report we will issue an invoice before providing the final documents.
- Insurance interviews – £113.96
- Fire investigation report – full report involving extensive enquiries and photographs – £550.17
- Fire investigation report – major incidents requiring extensive protracted investigation – £806.25
- Fire investigation report – short or extracted report – £412.93
- Basic investigation report extract from FaRDaP – £130.00
How to request incident information and make payment
When you contact us, please tell us why you need the information and explain your connection to the event (for example, property owner, insurer or legal representative). Provide enough details to locate the record: the type of incident, the approximate date and time, and the address where our crews attended. Include an email address so we can correspond and send electronic files. If you need assistance setting up an email account, we can point you to basic support options.
We protect privacy by removing any personal, confidential or sensitive material before releasing a copy of a report. If you request a paid report, we will send an invoice and accept payment by Direct Debit, debit or credit card, or bank transfer using BACS or Faster Payments. Once payment is received we will deliver the requested documents, including the incident reference number to help you match the report to the FaRDaP record.
