COUNTY Durham and Darlington fire brigade is to consult communities on the most radical changes to take place in the service for 50 years.

Consultation with the public will take place following a Government directive to all fire authorities to develop an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), by the end of the year.

Minister hope the plans will help save more lives, reduce injuries, and protect property and the environment.

It is part of a national directive of modernisation and reform, calling for brigades to devise the IRMP to assess risks to life and injury to the community.

Emergency responses currently used by brigades date from 1947 and the Government now wants a more modern system that focuses on local needs.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade is to consult communities within the next few weeks.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Paul Henderson said: "Our current fire service plans are based on outdated emergency responses developed in 1947.

"These standards are based on a fire risk assessment of buildings and the response time by the brigade to these, and takes no reasoned account of real-life risk from fire in our residential areas.

"These areas are more likely to suffer fire deaths, injuries and property losses.

"The current assessments do not include incidents such as road traffic accidents, chemical incidents, trapped people or flooding."

He said the plans would consider all the life-threatening risks to the community and how the service would be able to respond to them.

The work will be carried out by the brigade in consultation with other outside agencies, the community, and neighbouring fire brigades.