Fire fighters' union warns 'matter of time until someone dies' over cuts

Fresh cuts to the emergency services “will cost lives”, the Fire Brigades Union has warned.

It follows modelling from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC ) that claimed standalone fire and rescue authorities face a £102 million real terms cut due to Government grant reductions. These cuts would take place over the next three years, and are the equivalent of losing approximately 1,500 wholetime firefighter posts.

The modelling also shows that when London and county services are included, this figure could rise to 2,300 firefighters. NFCC Chair Phil Garrigan, said: “I do recognise the Government has the unenviable task of balancing public finances and they face really tough choices when it comes to funding local services, but we have to confront how precarious a position fire and rescue finances are in right now."

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He continued: “If I didn’t speak up, I would be letting down the fire and rescue service and, more importantly, the people we serve. I would also be letting the Government down as I would be allowing decisions to be made without highlighting the real and legitimate concerns we have – concerns for the public, and concerns for the safety of our firefighters who risk their lives every day.

“We can no longer just roll up our sleeves and get on with it, our silence will put lives at risk. We cannot allow our fire and rescue service to become the forgotten emergency service.”

The NFCC say changes proposed in June’s Spending Review combined with proposed changes to how that money is distributed to local services through the local government finance settlement, would significantly weaken the fire and rescue sector, placing lives – particularly in deprived communities – at risk.

They claim fire and rescue services are projected to receive 4.3% of the total funding allocation for local government, down from 4.9%.

Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, echoed the warnings. He said: “Cuts to the emergency services will cost lives. It is a matter of time until someone dies - either because we don’t have the resources to reach them in time, or because cuts mean firefighters are being put in harm’s way.

“The UK has a record number of billionaires. The average FTSE 100 CEO takes three days to earn a firefighter’s whole annual salary. There is a clear alternative – introduce a wealth tax, rebuild our public services, and create an economy for workers.”

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