Firefighters say they are worried about the future if Government does pay Greater Manchester back for moorland fire response

Firefighters in Greater Manchester say they are worried they won't be able to cope, if the Government does not pay them back for their heroic efforts tackling the moorland fires over the summer.

It has been revealed Greater Manchester is still owed more than £1,000,000.

There is already a special fund in place to pay local authorities back after major emergencies, but the Government has not made it clear yet if the region will be considered for the cash.

Gary Keary, the Chair of the Fire Brigades Union in the North West, said:

"We've all seen the terrible conditions firefighters were facing in battling those flames, which looked like they could encroach on residential areas.

"We really were grateful for the help of the army, but the question is really, should we be relying on the army to help tackle those sorts of issues?

"Over recent years we've seen more and more of these disasters which are too big for any one brigade to handle. We've helped other brigades and there are funds in place through the Bellwin Scheme to pay people back and it's now time for the Government to step up.]

"I don't think they understand and I don't think they've overly interested. We see time and time again after these big incidents that the Prime Minister, or another minister, will turn up and promise the world but then they'll disappear back down to London.

"Reading between the lines, it's sending a clear message. We're facing another round of budget cuts to the Fire and Rescue service. If this money isn't recouped then the local authority may try to make it up through further cuts."

We have contacted the Department for Housing and Local Government for a response.

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