Wildfires: fire service bosses are guilty of “sabotage by inaction” and are “making excuses"

Firefighters have reacted angrily to a series of statements made by several chief fire officers which clearly have been written in order to downplay the impact of under-resourcing on their response to wildfire incidents.

Firefighters are incensed that chief fire officers and other fire and rescue leaders are “making excuses” for themselves and the government for the failure to prepare for extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Some fire services across the UK have released statements and comments declaring that the extreme weather in July and this week was “unprecedented”, as have the National Fire Chiefs Council.

Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary Andy Dark said:

“Fire services are strained to breaking point tackling wildfires because of under-resourcing.

“Fire services and the government were warned that there had to be proper plans and resources in place and they did nothing. We have been raising the alarm for years and years.

“Fire bosses need to stop the pretence. Instead of fighting for proper investment for our service, they have stood by while the government has slashed funding and presided over cuts to frontline resources which they have recommended as being acceptable in accordance with their "professional judgment". This is why fire services are struggling.

“We’ve got fire engines sat in stations because there aren’t enough people to staff them. On one day, whilst wildfires raged, there were 40 such fire engines gathering dust at fire stations across London. They are responsible for the reduction of 11,500 firefighters across the UK, over 20%, since 2010.

“Wildfires have been on the government’s National Risk Register since 2013. Fire bosses knew that this was a high risk facing the UK and chose to look the other way. Their umbrella body, the NFCC, has been like the three wise monkeys. They should all be totally ashamed of themselves for their sabotage by inaction.”