The East Sussex Fire Authority was created on 1st April 1997, as a result of local government reorganisation and covers the whole of East Sussex, which includes the area of Brighton and Hove Council as well as that of East Sussex County Council.

The Fire Service continues to provide fire & rescue services to the whole community of East Sussex, covering an area of 179,000 hectares and serving a population of about 730,000.

Responsibilities.

East Sussex Fire Authority has significant statutory responsibilities laid down in the Fire & Rescue Service Act 2004 and The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Other legislation requires organisations to consult the Fire Authority on issues of public safety. The latest additional responsibility has arisen with the Community Safety (Crime and Disorder) Act 1998, that requires the Fire Service to play its part in reducing crime and the fear of crime.

The primary duties of the Fire Authority are:

* To provide a Fire Service and to ensure its efficiency
* To provide the efficient training of members of the Service
* To ensure that efficient mobilising and communications arrangements exist
* To make arrangements to obtain information needed for firefighting purposes
* To make arrangements to ensure that the steps are taken to mitigate damage to property through firefighting
* To make arrangements to provide fire safety advice
* To make arrangements to give mutual assistance to other Fire Services
* To ensure that adequate water supplies are available for firefighting purposes