'Inconsiderate' parking at fire stations 'risks lives'

Firefighters in Cheshire are urging drivers to stop "risking lives" by parking in front of fire stations.

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service said it had received a number of reports of cars causing potential obstructions to fire engines at their stations.

The service posted one image of a vehicle in the car park of Wilmslow Community Fire Station.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), the service wrote: "Please refrain from doing this as it causes an obstruction and can delay our crews from responding to incidents."

Tony Hughes, group manager for operational policy and planning, told the BBC: "We are receiving increased reports from firefighters that people are parking vehicles on or around stations, causing an obstruction."

He said thoughtless parking could "put lives at risk".

"Emergency vehicles already encounter difficulties manoeuvring through roads where the public have parked inconsiderately, but blocking any of our fire stations is unacceptable.

"Please remember that every second counts when we need to respond to an emergency."

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