Firefighters have warned of a major threat to public safety as politicians and fire chiefs try to sneak through cuts to the fire and rescue services while firefighters respond to the coronavirus crisis.
These are the comments made by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) after a consultation on sweeping fire and rescue cuts was launched mid-pandemic:
“Firefighters have agreed to take on many new duties in response to the coronavirus pandemic including moving dead bodies, driving ambulances, and producing PPE, at the request of the government and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
“East Sussex’s Conservative-controlled fire authority has decided to consult the public on sweeping cuts to the county’s fire service, detailed in an integrated risk management plan (IRMP) drawn up by chief fire officer Dawn Whittaker and senior managers before the coronavirus outbreak. The proposals include major cuts to the number of fire engines, staffing levels, and night-time fire cover.
“The proposals include;
• Cutting 10 fire engines across the county from Battle, Bexhill, Crowborough, Lewes, Newhaven, Rye [leaving one], Uckfield, Seaford, Heathfield and Wadhurst stations;
• Cutting dedicated crews for high-reaching aerial fire appliances
• Cutting wholetime staffing levels across the county, particularly at stations in Lewes, Newhaven, Uckfield, Crowborough, Battle and Bexhill stations
• Reducing night time fire cover at The Ridge fire station in Hastings
“The FBU has accused fire chiefs and politicians of using the cover of the pandemic to rush through decisions on cuts to services whilst attention is elsewhere.
“Since 2011, fire and rescue services in the UK have had 11,500 firefighters cut from their staff, and since 2013 have seen real-terms spending on their service slashed by 38%””.
Simon Herbert, East Sussex firefighter and FBU brigade chair, said: “Firefighters are out on the frontline helping our communities through this crisis whilst still responding to fires and other emergencies.
“Meanwhile, our fire authority has thanked us by beginning the process of decimating our emergency response capabilities and ability to save lives, all from the safety of their living rooms.
“These proposals are dangerous and will seriously damage the availability of fire crews throughout East Sussex. These proposals deserve proper public scrutiny – not an ill-thought-out consultation process snuck out in the middle of the pandemic.”
The loss of one of the two pumps in Rye is a serious issue and could impact on resilience, along with the numbers of breathing apparatus crews, and issues of incompatibility with Kent equipment – and all in this remote part of East Sussex.
The proposals can be found here and a petition has been started against the proposals.
Image Credits: Nick Forman , FBU .
Wonder how many locals will sign the petition?