Fire response time cuts 'major threat' to safety

Firefighters leaders today warned that plans to cut response times to fire alarms were a "major threat" to public safety.

The Fire Brigades' Union accused the Government of using the entire UK population as "guinea pigs" for untested ideas.

The union complained about proposals which it said would force local authorities to stop sending the present number of fire tenders and crews to fire alarms. Crews would have to wait until a fire is confirmed before responding.

The FBU also complained that local authorities were being encouraged to reduce the availability of equipment such as turntable ladders. The union cited a recent incident in Peterborough in which two crews rescued people from a block of flats using a turntable ladder.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said in a letter to fire service minister Nick Raynsford: "Under your proposals an incident such as this could have had a very different outcome with deaths instead of rescue.

"Even a short delay, as there would be under your proposals, in tackling the fire would have resulted in further damage and possible further injuries.''

Immediate suspension
The union called on the Government to suspend plans to reduce the level of response to automatic fire alarms.

Andy Gilchrist's letter, sent yesterday to Nick Raynsford, stated: "As you know the ODPM (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) has instructed fire authorities to draw up local Integrated Risk Management Plans.

"As a result many fire authorities are to stop sending the current number of pumps and crews to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFAs) and reduce the speed at which they attend such incidents. In future, they will wait until a fire is confirmed until a full response is activated."

The letter went on to demand the "immediate suspension of plans that include any reduction in the current speed and level of response to automatic fire alarms" as well as "plans that include the reduction in response to other 999 fire emergencies."

Mr Gilchrist added: "We want to see proper trials over time and a proper independent review of these trials before such ideas are implemented. The ODPM is using the entire population of the UK as guinea pigs for your untested and untrialed ideas."

Unfounded scaremongering
Last night a spokesman for the ODPM said no letter had yet been received from the union.

He added: "It is scaremongering and wholly unfounded to suggest that local integrated risk management plans would put public safety at risk.

"The Government has made clear its priority is to save lives and reduce the number of fires. Each fire authority has to bring forward detailed plans showing how this is to be done.

"The Government would not support any proposals that would lead to a worse fire and rescue service."

Johnny Thomson