South East Fire Services Join Forces in Groundbreaking Fire Investigation Deal
East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, and Surrey Fire and Rescue Services have teamed up in a major collaboration to boost fire investigations across the South East. The four services signed a joint policy, known as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), back in November 2021. Now it’s live and set to bring game-changing consistency and strength to fire investigations.
Raising the Bar on Fire Investigations
This partnership aims to standardise fire investigations across the region. By working together, the fire services will share expertise, training, and resources to ensure top-notch investigations every time. The collaboration also focuses on following national guidance to improve fire safety and prevention efforts.
Fire Chiefs Praise the New Alliance
Mark Matthews, Assistant Chief Fire Officer for East Sussex, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Fire Investigation Memorandum of Understanding has now gone live across all four fire services. Fire Investigation is crucial—not only to find causes but also to shape future prevention and operational learning. Years of work have led to this milestone and I look forward to working closely with our neighbours.”
Mark Andrews, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for West Sussex, added: “This MOU sets a clear framework for collaboration on training, policies, and sharing fire investigation officers and equipment. Early joint training sessions have already shown promising results. Sharing fire data means spotting accidental fire trends sooner, allowing us to focus prevention efforts and make communities safer.”
Dan Quin, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Surrey, said: “Fire investigation teams are highly skilled in areas like drone piloting and dog handling. This collaboration boosts our borderless working, improves prevention, and strengthens regional partnerships and resilience. We welcome this MOU and thank everyone who made it possible.”
Stronger Together: A Fire-Safe South East
- Joint fire investigation across East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, and Surrey
- Consistent training and quality assurance for all officers
- Shared fire data spotting trends early
- Advanced rescue techniques including drone and dog handling
- Improved community fire prevention and safety measures
This bold move signals a new era of cooperation for fire services in the South East—offering stronger protection, smarter investigations, and safer neighbourhoods.
