Calls to invest in fire brigades with 'Fund the Frontline' campaign
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This is the warning from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) as new figures reveal brigades have faced the Covid-19 pandemic with 11,237 fewer firefighters and control staff than a decade ago.
The union said at least 5,000 firefighters need to be recruited to ensure services can tackle “the risks of today and tomorrow”.
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Hide AdFirefighters have to deal with the combined threats of the coronavirus pandemic, terrorism, the post-Grenfell building safety crisis and climate change-related events including flooding and wildfires.
Non-fire incidents have also risen by 12% since 2010, with firefighters responding to 162,251 of these last year; more than the total number of fires.
During the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, firefighters took on 14 new activities including driving ambulances and delivering PPE.
But the union says that if the pandemic had broken out during mass-flooding in the UK earlier in 2020, its firefighters may have not been able to support the crisis response.
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Hide AdThe FBU has launched a #FundTheFrontline campaign, in which firefighters and the public will be asked to write to their MPs demanding urgent investment in the Government’s one-year spending review.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak need to recognise the scale of risk faced by the public and fund the frontline firefighters who keep people safe.
"We need at least 5,000 new firefighters immediately to repair some of the damage austerity has done to our service and prepare for the risks of today and tomorrow.”
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) says that it has continued to support its communities without compromising public safety – but that budget cuts have led to ‘difficult decisions’.
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Hide AdPeter Heath, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at TWFRS, said in a statement: “We continuously monitor risk in our community to ensure appropriate staffing levels both now and in the future.
"The budget cuts we’ve faced over the last 10 years or so have meant we have had to make some difficult decisions, but we have continued to provide our services without compromising public safety.
“Our continuous process of reviewing our position and controlling and repurposing our budget to invest in frontline services and efficient ways of working has enabled us to make some significant reinvestments in our service, although we still face some uncertainty over our financial position longer-term.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic we have asked ex-service staff to volunteer non-operation duties to help ensure that our frontline firefighters remain available to respond to emergencies.
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Hide Ad"We have also provided refresher training for recently retired firefighters and sector competent office based staff to keep their skills up to date in case we require their services in the coming months.
“It’s thanks to the exception level of commitment and professionalism of all our staff across the Service that Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service are able to remain as a high-performing service and with our partners across the region, work to help keep communities safe.”