North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is responsible for one of the largest service
areas in England, covering over 3,200 square miles and more than 6,000 miles of
road. Our area has isolated rural settlements and farms, market towns, and larger
urban areas such as York, Harrogate, and Scarborough. The geographical area is
incredibly diverse. It is both highly connected and urban, with the city of York at its
centre along with distinct market towns, and rural, isolated communities.

The road network is the main means of transport connecting small towns and villages. The rural nature of our area means that people often travel further to access work, education, and services. Several major arterial routes also cross our area – the A1(M), M62, A59, A64, A65, A66 and A19.

Two of the major rivers in the county are the River Swale and the River Ure, joining together to form the river Ouse which flows through York. The coastline of North Yorkshire runs for approximately 45 miles from just north of Whitby to south of Filey.

There are approximately 828,052 residents in York and North Yorkshire, 61% of whom are of working age. York has a strong student base, due to the presence of two universities. The population is primarily of an older demographic with 24% of residents aged 65 and over, compared with a national average of 18%.

The city of York is our largest urban area – 20% of York and North Yorkshire’s population is based here. York and North Yorkshire includes high-quality landscapes with two national parks (North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales) and three National Landscapes (Howardian Hills, Nidderdale and the Forest of Bowland).

Some of our neighbourhoods are among the 20% most deprived in England. Most of these are in Scarborough, but six are also within York, two in Craven and single neighbourhoods in Selby and Harrogate, signifying deprivation is not simply coastal. Those with a lower income tend to live in areas of deprivation, where the likelihood of a fire in their home is higher than those living in less deprived areas.