Fire Services Act 1947

2 Arrangements for mutual assistance.

(1) It shall be the duty of fire authorities, so far as practicable, to join in the making of schemes (hereafter in this section referred to as '' reinforcement schemes '') for securing the rendering of mutual assistance for the purpose of dealing with fires occurring in the areas of authorities participating in a reinforcement scheme where either—

(a) it is necessary to supplement the services provided under the last foregoing section by the authority in whose area the fire occurs, or

(b) reinforcements at any fire can be more readily obtained from the resources of other authorities participating ' in the scheme than from those of the authority in whose area the fire occurs.

(2) Any reinforcement scheme made under the last foregoing subsection shall be notified to the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State may direct that any such scheme notified to him shall have effect subject to such modifications as may be specified in the directions.

(3) Where in the case of any fire authorities no reinforcement scheme has been made, or it appears to the Secretary of State that any such scheme is no longer satisfactory, the Secretary of State may, after affording an opportunity to all fire authorities appearing to him to be concerned to make representations to him, make a reinforcement scheme for the authorities in question.

(4) A reinforcement scheme may make provision for apportioning between the fire authorities concerned, in such proportions as may be specified by or under the scheme, expenses incurred in taking measures to secure the efficient operation of the scheme.

(5) A reinforcement scheme may contain such provisions requiring uniformity of equipment as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary for the purpose of ensuring that the fire brigades affected will be able to render efficient assistance in pursuance of the scheme.

(6) Where a reinforcement scheme has come into operation, it shall be the duty of the fire authorities to whom the scheme applies to carry it into effect.

(7) Any reinforcement scheme may be varied by a subsequent such scheme made in the like manner and subject to the like provisions.

(8) A fire authority may enter into arrangements with persons (not being other fire authorities) who maintain fire brigades to secure, on such terms as to payment or otherwise as may be provided by or under the arrangements, the provision by those persons of assistance for the purpose of dealing with fires occurring in the area of the authority where either—

(a) it is necessary to supplement the services provided by the authority under the last foregoing section, or

(b) reinforcements at any fire occurring in the area of the authority can be more readily obtained from the resources of the said persons than from the resources of the authority.

(9) The Secretary of State may, for the purposes of his functions under this section, hold such public local inquiries as he thinks fit.