How long the engine takes

Two minutes separates the fastest borough from the slowest.

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Data access

Use the machine-readable JSON record or the flattened CSV download or the compact Markdown version.

Preview the latest 33 observations
SeriesPeriod or categoryValueUnit
ValueKensington and Chelsea260seconds to first engine
ValueLambeth270seconds to first engine
ValueTower Hamlets272seconds to first engine
ValueCity of London277seconds to first engine
ValueHammersmith and Fulham289seconds to first engine
ValueSouthwark292seconds to first engine
ValueIslington292seconds to first engine
ValueWandsworth293seconds to first engine
ValueHackney295seconds to first engine
ValueCamden296seconds to first engine
ValueWestminster297seconds to first engine
ValueWaltham Forest299seconds to first engine
ValueLewisham299seconds to first engine
ValueCroydon302seconds to first engine
ValueSutton309seconds to first engine
ValueGreenwich311seconds to first engine
ValueNewham311seconds to first engine
ValueMerton314seconds to first engine
ValueKingston upon Thames315seconds to first engine
ValueHaringey318seconds to first engine
ValueEaling326seconds to first engine
ValueBarnet328seconds to first engine
ValueHounslow334seconds to first engine
ValueHarrow334seconds to first engine
ValueBarking and Dagenham336seconds to first engine
ValueBrent338seconds to first engine
ValueBexley339seconds to first engine
ValueRedbridge342seconds to first engine
ValueHavering345seconds to first engine
ValueRichmond upon Thames345seconds to first engine
ValueEnfield346seconds to first engine
ValueBromley355seconds to first engine
ValueHillingdon369seconds to first engine

Methodology

Median seconds from call to the first fire engine arriving, per borough, across every incident since January 2024. Median rather than mean, because a handful of very long attendances would move an average somewhere no borough recognises. Calls where no engine was sent — advice given over the phone, or a duplicate call to an incident already being attended — carry no attendance time and are excluded rather than counted as instant. The brigade's own target is a first engine within six minutes.

Provenance

Cadence
monthly
Engine
comparison

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