FBU says fire engines 'have gone missing' from Dorset & Wiltshire stations
It's amid a push from DWFRS to save money on appliances
The Fire Brigades Union say firefighters turning up for shifts at Dorset and Wiltshire stations last month found fire engines missing.
Appliances disappeared from Sturminster Newton, Wareham, Corsham and Marlborough stations last month.
It follows the service announcing plans to cut engines and downgrade fire cover at some stations across the region.
The Union claims crews were given no official notice that fire appliances were going to be removed so soon though.
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. 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.”
DWFRS response
In a statement, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue has said:
"As with many public sector organisations, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are facing significant financial challenges, and we have a programme of work in place to make sure we are sustainable for the future.
"Following a comprehensive fire cover review, we have looked at the position, the number and type of our resources to make sure these meet the changing risk profile across our Service area – we need to make sure our resources are in the right place based on community need.
"The detailed data analysis of seven on-call stations, informed the decision to remove the second fire engine at Corsham, Marlborough, Sturminster Newton and Wareham fire stations. The first fire engine will remain at these stations to ensure we can be there when our communities need us. The decision has also been made to remove the second fire engine at Poole fire station, which is crewed by wholetime firefighters. These decisions are made under the delegation of the Chief Fire Officer. Staff were advised of this work in February 2024, the decision on the removal of these second fire engines was taken in August and staff were then advised that these changes would take effect by October 2024.
"Crews on each of the stations affected were engaged with at the beginning of the week the fire engines were due for removal and informed immediately following the removal of each vehicle, this was also communicated to local FBU officials.
"Whilst the data suggested that the removal of some fire engines is the right thing to do, and this presents essential savings to help our financial challenges, this is also a programme of work that includes some reinvestment and will enable us to improve fire cover by increasing the number of wholetime firefighter posts at Westlea fire station and upgrading Amesbury and Dorchester fire stations from on-call only to on-call and wholetime.
"Dependant on our financial settlement for 2025/26 we will review the proposal to remove the second fire engine at another three on-call stations – Sherborne, Portland and Wimborne. This review will happen in January 2025.
"We will continue to keep local union representatives engaged and informed with this work."