Dangerous and ignorant right wing trash – the FBU’s verdict on Reform’s claim that further major fire service cuts are ‘manageable’

The Fire Brigades Union has condemned Reforms claim that further huge fire service cuts are manageable as dangerous right-wing trash. The FBU warns that if the Reform agenda was followed it would have a devastating impact on public and firefighter safety. FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said: “It is dangerous and ignorant right wing trash to suggest that more cuts to an already depleted fire service are manageable. We’ve been cut to the bone already and further frontline cuts will have a devastating impact. “Reform make this claim based on the falling number of deaths in accidental dwelling fires. They put this down to smoke alarms, which do not put out fires or rescue people….

AssetCo in the high court today

AssetCo got a month stay of execution in the high court today. FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Privatising emergency services is stupid and dangerous. The long, slow death of AssetCo is a perfect illustration of this. We still do not know what is going to happen to London and Lincolnshire’s fire engines. They are, we believe, going to be the property of AssetCo’s creditors when AssetCo finally goes under. I call on the London Fire Brigade and the government to bring the fleet and their maintenance back into public ownership.” For further details contact Francis Beckett  020 8349 9194 07813 001372

London’s Fire Brigade urged to “learn from its mistakes” and stop new privatisation

The day before AssetCo – the troubled company which owns and maintains all London and Lincolnshire’s fire engines – faces likely winding up, the Fire Brigades Union spoke out against new plans for further privatisation of the fire service. It urged the London Fire Brigade to “learn from past mistakes.” The London Fire Brigade is leading plans to privatise the control and mobilisation service, so that when you dial 999 you will be put through to employees of a private company instead of fire brigade employees. Under the contract, the successful bidder will take on the management of call handling software, IT maintenance and support, data management and business continuity services. The Brigade also has…

Record spending by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service on consultancy fees and employment agency payments

The Fire Brigades Union has uncovered that Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in the first seven months of this year has spent over half a million pounds on consultancy costs and employment agency fees alone. This almost equals the entire amount spent on these services over a four year period, 2005-2009. If BFRS continue at this rate it will result in a total yearly expenditure of nearly one million pounds. At the same time as this massive increase in consultancy costs, senior managers are proposing a number of reviews incorporated within their recently published ‘Public Safety Plan’ that are specifically aimed at reducing front line costs. Should they be approved in September, it will likely…

London Fire Brigade “stretched to breaking point” during riots

The London Fire Brigade was stretched to breaking point during the recent riots, the Fire Brigades Union said today. The union statement contradicted a claim by the chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Brian Coleman, that other Brigades were not needed.  “The Brigade did not have enough fire engines, and other Brigades came in to deal with incidents in Enfield and other places. The control room was overwhelmed with the number of calls, and did not have enough staff to deal with them all” said FBU London Region executive member Ian Leahair. “Mr Coleman wants to reduce London’s firefighters, fire engines and fire stations, so he has to pretend we had enough…

Bournemouth floods “show recklessness of fire service cuts”

“This emergency required 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines” said FBU general secretary Matt Wrack. “If the proposed cuts had taken place, we could not have mobilised enough firefighters or fire engines, and they would have taken longer to get there because of fire station closures.” Mr Wrack also called for a clear duty to be placed on the fire service to plan for major flood incidents. “This would show the case for proper planning, training and equipment, and for the additional resources the service needs to undertake this role” he said. “Our members have once again done a magnificent job. Bournemouth received a fortnight’s worth of rain in just half an hour. Our members…

Fire crews sickened by the silence of politicians over fire service cuts

The Fire Brigades Union says fire crews are ‘sickened’ by the silence of politicians over fire service cuts. Politicians have been queuing up to question police cuts, but none have yet challenged the same cuts to the fire service. The union has been inundated by fire crews complaining about the lack of opposition to major fire service cuts in wake of widespread civil disturbances. The strongest and most recent comments have come from fire crews working in areas of recent unrest. Fire crews have made similar comments over recent years in the aftermath of floods, extensive wildfires and in dealing with extreme winter weather. Like civil disturbances involving widespread arson, these incidents can tie up…

Attacks on fire crews must stop before people die

The Fire Brigades Union is warning that attacks on fire crews will result in deaths if they continue. Any delay in carrying out rescues hugely increases the risk to anyone trapped in a fire. FBU Assistant General Secretary Andy Dark said: “Fire crews have been subjected to attacks and threatened as they try to protect the communities they live and work in. It is predominantly poorer working class communities that are bearing the brunt of arson attacks. “Fire crews are doing their best in the face of great risk to themselves. They’ve been attacked on the way to incidents, at the scene and there have been attempts to steal life saving equipment. “Those who are…

Conservative group block debate on future of Isle of Wight fire control

Conservative group block debate on future of Isle of Wight fire control   In an astonishing show of contempt for democracy and the safety of Island residents, at the full council meeting held on Wednesday 15th June, the Island’s conservative group succeeded in blocking a debate from taking place that could have seen the decision to transfer the IOW Fire Control to Surrey Fire and Rescue Service reversed and the vital service remain on the Island.   Labour Councillor Geoff Lumley moved a motion that would have seen the jobs of 12 island firefighters saved and prevented Island council tax and business rate payers being forced to pay for emergency 999 calls being answered and…

FIREFIGHTERS TO LOBBY AGAINST BIGGEST EVER PROPOSED CUTS IN HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE’S FRONTLINE FIRE SERVICE

THE FIRE BRIGADES UNION   … PRESS RELEASE … PRESS RELEASE … PRESS RELEASE …. PRESS RELEASE     25th May  2011  FBU immediate media release FIREFIGHTERS TO LOBBY AGAINST BIGGEST EVER PROPOSED CUTS IN HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE’S FRONTLINE FIRE SERVICE   Firefighters, Fire Officers and Emergency Fire Control Staff from across Cambridgeshire will gather at 12 midday tomorrow (Thursday 26th May 2011) at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Head Quarters in Huntingdon to lobby Members of the Fire Authority ahead of their 2pm meeting to decide the largest package of cuts to frontline emergency services ever seen in the history of the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.   Fire Brigades Union General Secretary Matt…