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Fire union protests over change to on-call numbers

Steve Hubbard/BBC protestersSteve Hubbard/BBC
Firefighters union members have protested over a decision to reduce the number of firefighters in crews

Members of the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) have staged a protest against a change in the number of on-call firefighters.

Firefighters lined the entrance to Huntingdon Fire Station and training centre on the day it was officially opened by the Princess Royal.

The FBU has raised concerns over a policy to reduce on-call firefighters from five to three per crew.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue says the policy is not a "reduction or cut".

The new fire station at Huntingdon was opened on Wednesday by Princess Anne, who was met with the protest on her arrival.

Dave Webster/BBC protestersDave Webster/BBC
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue services said that three crews instead of five would improve efficiency

Mark Harriss, FBU Cambridgeshire brigade secretary, said: "We have to make a stand.

"We have to show the fire services, councillors and the public that we're not willing to accept the current practice that is being adopted.

"Decades worth of research show that you need five firefighters particularly when there is a life risk involved.

"Each firefighter on that engine has a specific job - and three means two of the jobs aren't being completed."

The changes came into force in January 2023.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "On many occasions the crew of three is able to deal effectively with the incident and cancel oncoming crews, so they can return to their own towns or villages to be ready to respond again".

Dave Webster/BBC woman at firefighter protestsDave Webster/BBC
Charley Woodward-Howe said everyone needed to be aware of the changes and the safety of having five crew members over three

Charley Woodward-Howe, who joined the Huntingdon protest, said firefighters had helped members of her family escape a house fire.

"If crews of three were in place then, it doesn't bear thinking about what the outcome of our family could have been," she said.

Calum Hodgkin, FBU brigade organiser said: "Its not just the safety of the public who we are here to protect, it's also firefighters.

"We'll be put in positions where there will be moral issues that could potentially lead to firefighters doing what they believe is right - but is dangerous."

Last month, more than 40 Cambridgeshire firefighters protested at Shire Hall in Alconbury Weald.

Steve Hubbard/BBC protestersSteve Hubbard/BBC
Protesters came out at the opening of a new fire station and training centre in Huntingdon opened by The princess Royal, Ann
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