Chiefs warn of fire service ‘tipping point’ over cost cuts

FIRE service chiefs have warned that any more funding cuts will mean people have to wait longer for help in an emergency.

Phil Loach, Chief Fire Officer of West Midlands Fire Service, and Councillor John Edwards, Chair of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, said fire engine response times would increase if the service was forced to continue making savings.

They said fire and rescue services are approaching a “tipping point” which could mean:

People having to wait longer for fire crews to arrive in an emergency

Less community-based prevention work with vulnerable people including the elderly and schoolchildren

Less fire safety work with West Midlands businesses

More fires Government figures show the number of West Midlands firefighters has fallen by more than 600. They’re down from 2,035 in 2002 to 1,408 today.

Mr Loach said: “The money we get from the Government dropped by £28m between 2011/12 and 2015/16. We’re expecting further cuts of £10m by 2020.”

“The public need total confidence in their fire service to be able to deliver.

“It’s essential that fire and rescue services are resilient, adequately resourced and can respond quickly to a wide range of emergencies. This all needs to be based on risk, not demand.”

The two fire chiefs met MPs at Westminster to highlight their concerns.

And they urged the Government to support the fire service in the Budget, when the Chancellor sets outs his spending plans, due on 22 November.

Mr Loach said the fire authority should be allowed to increase the precept added to council tax bills by more than the current limit of 2 per cent.

Current rules state that any increase higher than this must be approved by a referendum of local voters.

The current precept is £57.14 a year for a band D property.

Coun Edwards, a Labour councillor in Sandwell, said: “The latest figures from the Government itself expose the impact of unprecedented cuts on the fire and rescue services nationwide.

“Thousands fewer firefighters mean less prevention and protection work and a negative impact on response times.”

Labour MP Jack Dromey (Erdington), who attended the meeting, backed calls for more funding.

He said: “The longer it takes for firefighters to reach a blazing fire, the greater the risk that someone trapped inside will die.

“So too will businesses burn if firefighters cannot get there on time.”