Wales loses 300 firefighters over 10-year period

THERE are now nearly 20% fewer firefighters in Wales than there were over 10 years ago, according to Government figures.

In 2005, there were 1,707 fulltime firefighters across the Welsh Fire and Rescue Authority, compared to 1,412 in 2016.

That is a drop of 300 firefighters over a decade, according to figures from the Welsh Government.

In 2005, that meant almost six full-time staff for every 10,000 residents in Wales in 2005.

But 11 years later, that figure drops to just over four-and-a-half crew per 10,000 residents.

And the number of retained firefighters – staff not employed full-time by the department – also declined over the same period.

The figures come in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster in London where dozens of firefighters were involved in the rescue operation.

The number of people who have died, including those classed as missing presumed dead, remains at 79.

The Liberal Democrats are now calling on the Government to scrap the 1% public sector cap, which would result in an estimated annual pay rise of £550 for firefighters and £471 for police officers by 2021.

The reductions in Welsh firefighter numbers could be due to two fire stations closing between 2015 and 2016 – taking the total number of stations in Wales to 149.

Blaina Fire Station shut its doors despite a year-long battle to keep it open.

After the decision, Margaret Griffin, the widow of firefighter Stephen Griffin – who died aged 42 while battling a blaze alongside colleague Kevin Lane, 33 – branded the decision “absolutely disgraceful”.

Firefighters Mr Griffin and Mr Lane lost their lives battling a raging house fire in Zephaniah Way in the village in 1996.

At the time of the station closure, Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway said: “I take absolutely no pleasure in this. I certainly didn’t come into this job to be closing fire stations, but we have got to recognise that things have changed across our communities.”

Porth Fire Station was closed on July 21, 2016.

On the day it closed, Gerwyn James, crew manager at the Rhondda station, said he was “gutted” – and asked senior management to erect a plaque commemorating the efforts of Porth fire crews for more than half a decade.

The Welsh Government said the numbers don’t take into account that there has been a decline in fires over the last decade – from 26,335 in 2004-05 to 12,111 in 2015-16. The number of fire-related casualties have also nearly halved – from 554 in 2004-05 to 289 in 2015-16 – in Wales.

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “It is essential that the critical emergency services that protect our communities are maintained.

“Fire and Rescue Authorities are responsible for making judgements on resources, including staff levels, based on an assessment of their communities and the emergency response required.”

Serving firefighter Cerith Griffiths, is secretary for the Fire Brigades Union in Wales.

He said the Welsh Government’s comments didn’t take into account the whole picture.

He said: “There has been a big decrease in fires, but that’s down to the fantastic work firefighters have been doing.

“There’s been a huge education programme where we go out to schools and vulnerable groups and fit smoke alarms in domestic dwellings.

“The nature of the job is changing. The number of fires have decreased but it doesn’t mean you don’t need fire stations.

“Look at what happened in London – that just shows what can happen if you don’t get the resources. You could find yourself getting unstuck.”

Mr Griffiths said a number of stations that have been downgraded as well – including Caldicot, Abertillery and Cowbridge.

Plaid Cymru Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards described the fall in firefighter numbers as a “huge concern”.

He said: “This is the Labour Government in Cardiff implementing austerity across an emergency service.

He said the service has to be able to “deal with all eventualities”, adding: “It’s about making sure you have got a service that can deal with any type of emergency.”

Mr Edwards has fought campaigns to save local stations and said fire authorities were under “huge, huge, huge financial pressure”. He has pushed for a review of the way fire services are funded in Wales.

He said: “It’s quite clear to me the way the fire service in Wales is funded is unsustainable at a time when the Welsh Government is just passing on Westminster austerity to local authorities and to emergency services like the fire service in particular, and there needs to be a better way of doing it.”