A new process is being developed for planning fire service emergency cover. This is being trialled in 12 brigades. These brigades were invited to consider the impact they thought implementation of this process would have within their area. This interim report first addresses areas where the proposed new process interacts with other fire service initiatives, and then deals with the main areas covered in the brigade responses, one chapter to a theme. Each chapter seeks to clarify how the issues which have been identified could be approached. The final chapter considers what has to happen next in planning for implementration.