- Agreement allowing firefighters to aid the coronavirus response extended
- New data reveals two thirds of fire and rescue services brought in to assist mortuaries
Fire and rescue services are preparing for a second wave of coronavirus as daily UK cases surge to record highs.
An agreement allowing firefighters to assist the NHS and social care sector has been extended by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and fire service national employers.
It comes as new data reveals firefighters have intervened more than 400,000 times to aid the Covid response:
- Eight in 10 fire and rescue services delivered more than 80,000 packages of food, medicines and other essentials to vulnerable persons
- Three quarters provided personnel to drive ambulances and assist ambulance services
- More than 70% of brigades delivered PPE - mostly for the NHS and ambulance service
- Almost two-thirds of services assisted with the movement of dead bodies to mortuaries
- 44% of brigades assisted with face fitting masks, providing 4,000 masks for NHS and care staff
Fire and rescue services have now been asked to risk assess all coronavirus-response activities, including those that haven’t been requested by Local Resilience Forums, so that brigades are ready for a second wave.
The extension will last until 29 October, while risk assessments for the nationally agreed activities are implemented locally. The agreement can then be extended further.
The FBU has warned that proper risk assessments are crucial to keep “heads above water” and prevent coronavirus outbreaks in fire and rescue services.
In late March more than three quarters of fire and rescue services reported having supply chain problems, including maintaining the supply of respiratory masks, hand sanitiser, wipes, cloths and coveralls.
Eight brigades reported problems securing essential cleaning products from breathing apparatus suppliers. Issues securing face mask cleaning products, respirator protective equipment and other items of PPE persisted into April.
While in early April almost 3,000 personnel were in self-isolation, at no point were fire and rescue services unable to function due to absences. Overall, Covid-related absences averaged at just 1.6% of fire and rescue personnel and the FBU is not aware of any currently-serving UK firefighter who has died from coronavirus.
In July, firefighters and control staff were offered a pay increase of just 2%, the same as the previous year.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said:
“As death tolls soared earlier in the year, firefighters stepped in to aid their communities in their darkest hour. With a second wave of infections now arriving, our crews are staying on high alert.
“Much like their colleagues in the NHS, firefighters and control staff have had to pick up the pieces of government that gutted their service with austerity and failed to prepare for the entirely foreseeable risk of a pandemic.
“The Fire Brigades Union has played a central role in forming the fire service’s response to the pandemic, ensuring the safest possible conditions for firefighters. But brigades must not be complacent about the risk to firefighters and the public – implementing risk assessments locally is crucial to keep our heads above water."
