Wildfires highlight need to keep on-call stations open
Eight on-call fire stations in Dorset & Wiltshire could close due to a funding shortfall
Fire chiefs in Dorset & Wiltshire say the summer wildfires have strengthened the case for increased precept flexibility to keep eight on-call fire stations open.
The stations are under threat due to a funding deficit and a public consultation saw opposition to the proposed closures, which Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said it was proposing with reluctance.
Having seen firefighters tackle hundreds of grassland, woodland and crop blazes over the summer, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Darren Langdown, said it's vital DWFRS retained what it currently has.
"What the last few weeks and months have shown is we're seeing a change in demand on the UK Fire and Rescue Service," he said. "We've seen fires up and down the country, many of which have been declared major incidents."
These incidents include the New Forest fire, which has seen the A31 shut for two weeks, where crews from Dorset and Wiltshire have been drafted in to support their colleagues on the front line.
"It's really important for us that we manage to maintain at least what we've got today," he said.
An application to increase the amount we pay through council tax to the Fire and Rescue Service is being prepared for submission later this year.
Bosses say increasing it by £8.77 will bring the service up to the national average. A decision on the application is expected early next year.
While conversations with Government officials have been encouraging, ACFO Langdown said that would keep things as they are, but there is an unprecedented demand on services, which is seeing firefighters deployed for more and more incidents throughout the year as a result of climate change and more severe weather conditions.
Firefighter welfare critical
As well as handling incidents within the Dorset and Wiltshire service area, crews are supporting neighbours, which is leading to a reduction in rest time between call outs.
ACFO Langdown said on-call firefighters are a critical part of how the service responds to incidents, as they can provide cover or relieve a tired crew.
He said that securing the increase in precept wouldn't necessarily lead to more full time stations, but could see more on-call firefighters recruited.
"What we want to do is make the conditions as good as we can for our on-call firefighters. We want to look after their welfare and we want to give them as much rest period as we can. So in some cases it would be more on-call firefighters because that would be the right thing to do because it fits the demand for the area," he said.
The extra numbers would allow a better work-life balance to be achieved.
"We do ask a lot from our on-call firefighters and they give a huge amount of commitment to come in and respond to incidents and you know miss all those family days out and barbecues and birthdays and things like that," ACFO Langdown said.
He said he understood the challenging job the Government has to balance the nations finances but urged decision makers to keep Fire and Rescue service funding high on the agenda to ensure a sustainable and fit for purpose future for them.
The Government has handed out emergency funding to fire services most affected by wildfires in recent weeks and is developing a wildfire response model to ensure services have what they need to tackle such incidents.
Ministers are also working on a restructured funding formula to replace the current model which was designed over a decade ago.