It is nearly 20 years since the second national firefighters strike took place along with the sweeping reforms that followed in the four years following the end of the strike in 2004. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMCIFRS) teams have now completed an inspection of all 45 fire and rescue services in England. In its final report State of Fire and Rescue – The Annual Assessment of Fire and Rescue Services in England, published on January 15, it summarises the first formal assessment of the FRS for over a decade. It is intended, according to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and of Fire and Rescue Services, Sir Tom Winsor, that this will be an annual publication.