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Cambs firefighters say 'lives at risk' with three-team crew

Jozef Hall FBU members protesting at a Cambridgeshire Fire Authority meetingJozef Hall
The Fire Brigades Union said cutting the number of on-call firefighters per crew was "putting lives at risk"

Firefighters have been protesting against what their union calls a "dangerous" reduction in crew sizes.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has cut on-call firefighters to three per crew. Five firefighters are recommended where lives are at risk.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said "sooner or later, this policy will end in tragedy".

The county's assistant fire chief Jon Anderson said "recruitment challenges" had forced the change.

Jozef Hall FBU member standing on a pallet addressing a protestJozef Hall
More than 40 Cambridgeshire firefighters took part in the Fire Brigades Union protest at Shire Hall in Alconbury Weald

The union held a demonstration outside a meeting of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority, which oversees the running of the county fire service, saying the change was putting "lives at risk".

A crew of three in a fire engine consists of one driver, one officer overseeing operations, and one crew member.

Firefighters are trained as crews of four or five, with roles assigned within these larger teams.

Callum Hodgkin, FBU organiser, said: "Fires can change quickly. With a crew of three, you aren't equipped safely tackle a serious incident like a house fire - you must wait for another crew to arrive.

"Firefighters in these crews face an impossible choice: wait outside a burning house or risk their jobs and lives by going in.

"Sooner of later, this policy will end in tragedy."

Jozef Hall Two FBU members holding placards saying "help us help you" and "cuts cost lives"Jozef Hall
Mark Harriss, FBU brigade secretary said: "If your house is on fire, you expect a fire engine to be able to help. You don't expect three firefighters to arrive and wait for back-up"

Mr Anderson said the fire service was "not ignoring the union concerns".

He said the the introduction of three-member crews in January was based on data from the past five years.

"We have not had any issues so far. Data showed five firefighters per crew were only needed twice in the last five years," he said.

"But, if we had a choice we would send out four or five on-call firefighters in one crew.

"We are trying very hard to get more on-call firefighters for the region. Although this is a national issue."

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