FBU demands Government invests in Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service
The union is calling for the new Government to honour it's pre-election promises
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is calling on the Government to honour its pre-election promises to invest in Dorset and Wiltshire's Fire Service.
The FBU says cutbacks over the last 14 years have seen one in five firefighters leave the service, with response times increasing by three minutes.
A rally was also held in Westminster with hundreds of firefighters joining the call for action - including many from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS).
Further cuts have been proposed, with the FBU saying public safety could be put at risk if they go ahead.
Dave Roberts from the FBU says the need for investment has reach desperation.
He said: "We need sustainable investment rather than investment which is being cut year in, year out. We need professional standards to be implemented and maintained throughout the UK's Fire and Rescue service, so that we don't end up with fragmentation."
Concerns fell on deaf ears with previous Government
Dave added it was felt the FBU's concerns had not been listened to by the previous Government.
"Hopefully we've now turned the corner after 14 years of Tory austerity, where public sector jobs were looked upon almost as a necessary evil, and the appropriate funding wasn't actually given.
"We are hopeful that with the new government and certainly the pre election pledges that they have made that they will, that they will fund appropriately all public sector, including the fire service and provide the proper service that the public require of those services."
He described the increased response time - which is linked to the job losses within the sector - as 'completely unacceptable'.
"In an emergency situation, every second counts," he said, adding: "We've seen response times increase by an average of about 3 minutes over the last 14 years, which does put lives at risk that is linked to the job losses within the Fire and Rescue service.
"So we need that sustained investment now, especially considering the emergency, the, the emerging risks that the Fire and Rescue service is now facing with regards to wildfire and widespread flooding within the UK."
Dave said the increased response times can be the difference between life and death.
"That additional 3 minutes really can mean the difference between life or death depending on the situation.
"A small fire in a property that within that 3 minutes can then escalate into a fully developed fire which is then almost unsurvivable for any occupants inside that building.
"It also puts the firefighters that are then entering that building much greater degree of risk."
DWFRS still meeting requirements
In a statement, DWFRS said that it's resources still meet requirements despite proposed cutbacks.
"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. There is a requirement for all fire and rescue services to review their community risk profile to provide value for money services to our communities.
"Following a comprehensive fire cover review, we are looking 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. Fundamental to the fire cover review is maintaining, and where we can, improving our response to emergency incidents, continuing to be there when our communities need us.
"Whilst the data suggests 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.