Storm over fire station downgrade

PLANS to downgrade a Warrington fire station in a bid to save £400,000 have been slammed by firefighters as putting lives and property at risk.
Reducing the operation of Birchwood Fire Station from round-the-clock cover could result in increased damage to property and even a death according to crews.
Firefighter Mark Lingard, local representative for the Fire Brigades Union, said plans are to cut the 24 firefighters down to 14.
They would work over two shift patterns during the day. Night cover would be provided by part-time retained staff from home or work – who could be at the station within five minutes of a call.
Firefighter Lingard said each year Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service carries out an integrated risk management plan to work out priorities – and the decision is part of the plan.
Firefighters voiced objections at a fire service meeting at Birchwood this week and are distributing campaign leaflets.
Birchwood is currently a whole time station – staffed 24 hours a day seven days a week.
He said: “The plan now is that the night will be covered by part-time staff turning in from home – they have got to live within five minutes of the station. “They have a pager, have to get up, get dressed and travel to the station.”
He warned that the five minutes extra delay could be “critical.”
Firefighter Lingard added: “If a fire is in a house and it takes five minutes longer for a fire engine to come – that could result in deaths.
“Fire spreads very quickly and minutes are quite crucial in a serious fire.”
Birchwood provides cover to a wide area including Culcheth, Hollins Green and Glazebury. It also offers back up for major incidents to Warrington and Stockton Heath.
The fire service plans a consultation meeting on proposals on Tuesday February 2 at Birchwood Fire Station from 2pm to 4pm. All are welcome.
It claims Birchwood is the “quietest” of all 24/7 stations in Cheshire. Plans for the station will be discussed. They include recruiting an extra 20 part-time firefighters and providing an extra midi-fire appliance to boost local cover.
There would be no redundancies but savings of around £400,000 would be reinvested in supporting frontline staff, such as the highest-rated fire kit and new breathing apparatus.
Chief Fire Officer Paul Hancock said: “Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service continues to make significant progress in protecting local communities, with major reductions in the numbers of house fires and injuries.”
The plans were to make the best use of resources and to ensure the service was prepared for “inevitable budget restrictions” it will face in the wake of the global financial crisis.