FIREFIGHTERS WARN – EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO FLOODING THREATENED BY CUTBACKS

The Fire Brigades Union has warned that relentless cuts to frontline 999 services threaten to hamper firefighters’ ability to respond to floods and other emergencies.

I share their concerns because the savage spending cuts imposed on fire and rescue services by central government is leading to fewer fire stations, fewer fire engines and fewer firefighters. The cuts are leaving local emergency crews ill-equipped to deal with floods, fires and other emergencies. The national media reported earlier this week that firefighters were so stretched in some areas that motorist stranded by rising floodwaters could not be rescued.

And yet the minster responsible for the fire and rescue seems oblivious to the problem. In fact when I challenged him about the impact of the cuts he dismissed my strictures claiming there had only been a 0.5% reduction in funding for fire and rescue services.

The FBU’s general secretary, Matt Wrack, has written to David Cameron, outlining the union’s concerns and calling for urgent action. I sincerely hope he is successful because the government is planning even bigger cuts in the next two years. This has led some fire chiefs to say they will not be able to fulfill their statutory responsibilities, let alone do anything else.

Given that water rescue is not a statutory duty, I shudder to think what will happen if there is more severe flooding next year.