The Fire Brigades Union has revealed that firefighters turning up for shifts at Dorset and Wiltshire fire stations were alarmed to find fire engines missing this September.
Fire appliances disappeared from Sturminster Newton, Wareham, Corsham, and Marlborough fire stations on September 19th and throughout that week.
In August, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service announced plans to cut fire engines and downgrade fire cover across the region. [1] The service has confirmed that these fire engines were removed as part of this programme of cuts, which the Fire Brigades Union has condemned as putting firefighters and communities at risk.
However, firefighters were given no official notice that fire appliances were going to be removed on that date.
At a meeting of the Fire Authority on October 1, Fire Brigades Union representatives raised concern that these cuts have been made without consulting or communicating with fully or listening to the concerns of firefighters or the public.
A week after the removal of the fire engines, a fire was reported in a flat in Corsham. Enough firefighters for two fire engine crews responded, arriving at the fire station. However, the removal of the second fire engine meant that only one crew could be mobilised.
This meant a second fire engine had to travel from Chippenham, delaying the response. Firefighters were able to successfully tackle the fire and rescued an occupant. However, Chippenham is one of the fire stations facing downgrading, meaning there will be no guaranteed fire cover at night.
The Fire Brigades Union has said that disaster was “only avoided by luck”.
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary said:
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is clearly trying to get away with cuts by stealth. Axing fire engines and downgrading firefighter cover will hollow out any last resilience. The public, and the workforce, deserve a say in their service.
Fire service bosses must stop playing fast and loose with firefighter and public safety. The frontline is raising the alarm, and the fire authority must start listening.”
Val Hampshire, Executive Council member for the South West, said:
Firefighters were shocked to find fire engines had been removed from their fire stations. As we saw last week, firefighters are dangerously thin on the ground, with disaster only avoided by luck. Plans to slash fire cover will mean that there may be no back-up next time.
To prevent future tragedies, the service must return the fire engines and scrap plans to downgrade the service further.”
