Firefighters cut by 1,346 while fire safety audits down 14% – figures published last week have revealed. The number of firefighters (FTE) fell by 1,346, from 34,395 to 33,049, in the year to March 2017 a reduction of 4%.
The number of fire and rescue support staff saw a 10% decrease, from 7,952 to 7,132
The number of fire safety audits of buildings is down by 14% compared to the previous year.
Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Communities and Local Government, commented:
“These figures show fire services across the country are being cut to the bone. Firefighters do an incredible job, but are increasingly finding themselves overstretched and under-resourced. The government must reverse these cuts and give fire services the resources to keep our communities safe.
As the Grenfell Tower tragedy showed, we urgently need to invest more in fire prevention. Fire services need more staff so they can carry out vital safety checks and ensure buildings are safe.”
More information
In total 40,180 staff (FTE) were employed by Fire and Rescue Services on 31 March 2017. This was a 5% decrease compared with the previous year (42,347 in 2016).
33,049 staff (FTE) were employed as firefighters on 31 March 2017. This was a 4% decrease compared with the previous year.
7,131 (FTE) were employed fire control or support staff, a 10% decrease compared with the previous year
See figures on fire prevention and fire safety audits here
Fire safety audits are carried out by Fire And Rescue Authorities to check that premises are being properly managed regarding fire safety.
Fire and Rescue Authorities carried out 54,247 fire safety audits in 2016/17, 14% fewer than in 2015/16 (63,201)
In 2015/16 the highest proportion of fire safety audits were carried out on shop premises (20% or 10,880), followed by care homes (14% or 7,391) and licensed premises (13% or 6,867).
17,000 (32%) of fire safety audits were deemed unsatisfactory. This led to 369 enforcement notices, 527 prohibition notices, 61 alteration notices and 68 prosecutions
Firefighters are fighting budget cuts as well as fires! The number of firefighters (and appliances) decrease year on year but they are always ready to attend emergencies, save lives and educate people so that they can help to protect themselves. They are now expected to adopt a social work role as well as medical roles – all of which is done without a lot of recognition and no extra funding! They need to be properly recompensed and recognised.