UK Fire Union Says Cuts Will Put Lives at Risk

Union officials say lives are being put at risk by jobs and service cuts being proposed by a fire brigade.

Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade, based in Washington, Sunderland, is cutting its budget by more than £5m in the face of Government cuts.

Proposals include making more than 130 firefighters redundant, scrapping six fire engines and closing some fire stations.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) described the cuts as devastating and said the public and firefighters will face increased danger if they are implemented. The loss of the 131 posts would amount to 20 per cent of the brigade’s total, the same percentage as the cut in the number of fire engines.

A ladder platform, used for tackling fires in tall buildings, would also go, and there would be cuts to crewing at night.

The proposals include the closure of Gosforth, Wallsend and Sunderland central fire stations and the building of a new station covering Gosforth and Wallsend.

FBU secretary Dave Turner said: “We have made it clear in all recent discussions with senior managers that we will oppose any further cuts to frontline services.

“These are the most devastating cuts in the service’s history and will mean firefighters and the public will be at far greater risk.

“It also means that areas of Tyne and Wear will be left without cover for extended periods, again increasing the risk to both the public and firefighters.”

Chief fire officer Tom Capeling said the proposed cuts were options that would be consulted on before a decision was taken.

He said: “Removing six fire engines from our existing fleet of 30 will have an impact on our speed of response.

“Being fast to incidents helps us, helps the firefighters and helps the people that need us.

“What we are putting in place for the consultation today is a strategy that changes how we respond. We will become slower to lowerrisk incidents.”