Firefighters warn over cuts

The FBU firefighters’ union has blamed government cuts for a slowing of fire response times.

Figures released in February show the average response time for primary fires in England was eight minutes and 43 seconds for the year ending September 2021, a slowing of six seconds when compared to the previous year — and the largest slowdown since between March 2014 and March 2015.

The rise comes against a background of a general long-term slowing of response times. This statistic stood at eight minutes and six seconds for 2009-2010, when the current recording system began, and stood at six minutes and six seconds for 1994-1995.

FBU assistant general secretary Andy Dark said: “It is no surprise that response times are increasing — central government cuts are entirely to blame for this reduction in services and our communities deserve better.

“Decades of cuts have resulted in fewer firefighters, fire engines and fire stations.”

He added: “This news sums up the last decade of devastating government cuts: we are being left for longer as our houses burn.” And he emphasised that slow response times mean “more serious fires, more deaths, more injuries, more serious damage to your houses and businesses”.

Since 2016, around £140 million has been taken out of the fire and rescue service in England. And since 2010, more than 11,000 firefighter posts — around one in five — have been lost across the UK.