Burned out Firefighters have to work more for less pay
There’s utter complacency. It is staggering and
disgraceful
HERO firefighters face a perfect storm of job and pay cuts plus more work as temperatures rise, campaigners warn.
A significant number of wildfires, storms and floods are predicted in the coming years due to climate change.
Yet the UK will be “less able to cope” than it would have been 12 years ago, the Fire Brigade Union has claimed.
It estimates nearly a quarter of UK fire service jobs – around 11,500 – have been cut since 2011.
And concerns are growing that exhausted firefighters quitting for less demanding and better paid work may lead to a mass exodus of staff.
FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said: “People setting policy on this are utterly complacent. It is staggering, it’s disgraceful and it should be a national scandal.
“That scale of job losses means, day-to-day, there are fewer fire engines available and fewer firefighters on those engines.
“At a major protracted incident, firefighters are working in extreme heat in heavy protective equipment. Their bodies become hot. Fatigue can set in.
“There should be provisions in place to relieve them and put other crews in. If you’ve slashed the workforce to that degree, the ability to do that is limited.”
During this week’s heatwave, 14 fire and rescue services declared major incidents.
A record 16 firefighters also suffered heat exhaustion and burns after battling house fires and wildfires as the temperatures topped 40C on Tuesday – the hottest ever day in Britain.
Mr Wrack said the fires caused the heatwave were not surprising, but told how FBU warnings about extreme weather have “fallen on deaf ears” for years.
This year alone, there have been 442 wildfires in England and Wales, compared with 247 in 2021.
Tuesday was also said to be London Fire Brigade’s busiest day since the Second World War. It dealt with some 1,146 incidents and took 2,670 calls. On a normal day, it deals with 350 to 500 calls.
LFB Commissioner Andy Roe praised his staff’s “extraordinary bravery” in saving countless lives – and said this week’s events showed firefighters deserve to be paid fairly.
The FBU has rejected the Government’s offer of a 2% pay rise and is considering taking further action.
Trainees currently start on £23,366, which rises to £31,144 when qualified. Watch managers get up to £38,611.
Mr Wrack insisted firefighters do not want to strike, but said: “This year, you’ve got a boost in inflation and a massive problem of struggling to pay the bills.
“We are at breaking point. Morale is at a very low ebb.
“I don’t think anyone could reasonably say they should be expected to take another pay cut, which is essentially what they’ve been asked to do.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “The government is committed to ensuring fire services have the resources they need.”
feedback@people.co.uk