FBU Dismiss Fire Authority Deal for Windsor Fire Cover

MEDIA RELEASE

The Brigade Committee of Berkshire Fires Brigades Union (FBU) has debated the Fire Authority’s proposals for new arrangements for fire cover in Windsor. The Brigade Committee, made up from representatives from across the county, overwhelmingly dismissed the proposals and raised grave professional concerns about public and firefighter safety and the motivations for the decision.  They further instructed Brigade Officials to challenge the Fire Authority and seek an urgent meeting with the Chair of the Fire Authority to discuss their concerns.

Royal Berkshire Fire Authority decided at its last meeting, 28th September 2011, to provide 24 hour fire cover in the town with an under-sized vehicle crewed with just three fire-fighters. The Fire Authority had been considering the proposals in secret just a week earlier but decided to move the decision to the public part of the meeting at the last minute. The plans will see the vehicle operate from a base provided by the local authority with a crew from Slough fire station. The under sized, under equipped and under crewed fire appliance will be expected to attend all incidents in Windsor despite its inadequacies raising serious health and safety implications for firefighters and the public .

The decision is now subject to a period of consultation and the FBU will be making a detailed submission outlining their concerns.

Mark Stollery, Berkshire FBU, Secretary said:

“The decision to provide 24 hour fire cover in Windsor is a good one but this is the wrong solution and is not in the interests of Windsor resident’s safety. This is a politically motivated and politically fudged deal that is disingenuous to the people of Windsor who deserve better. There are many other better solutions available to the Fire Authority and they should now fully explore them before going down this dangerous route.”

Maurice Whyte, Berkshire FBU Chair, said:

“The Fire Authority intends to replace Windsor’s fire engine with a much smaller vehicle and a reduced crew. This vehicle will not be appropriate to deal with serious incidents such as house fires. We’re being told that the proposed vehicle will be supported at these incidents by two additional fire appliances. However, this measure in itself will strip fire cover from elsewhere in the county and does not resolve the problem of what happens when this small fire vehicle arrives first at a serious incident. As it stands now, it will have to wait until supporting appliances arrive before the crew can get to work properly. The brigade will argue that it can perform rescues. However, this can not be achieved safely.”

***ENDS***

Contact:

Mark Stollery – 07917 065868

Maurice Whyte - 07917 065867