Warning over fire services in England
Should this country be struck down by a flu pandemic or industrial action the fire service would find it hard to cope with such emergency situations, an Audit Commission study has found.
The findings of the study which looked at the 46 fire authorities in England warned that public safety would be at risk in circumstances like strike action or widespread power failure. This is because specialist equipment could not be guaranteed to be ready in these instances.
However, most areas may still be able to provide a level of service due to a loss of staff.
The Audit Commission Chairman Michael O’Higgins said:
“It is reassuring to find that most areas have robust plans in place to cope with loss of staff. Of concern, though, is that public safety may be at risk if major disruption occurs across several fire and rescue authorities and lasts for a long time.
“In these circumstances we also discovered that specialist equipment designed to deal with the aftermath of terror attacks or major natural disasters is less likely to be deployable because of demands on firefighter resources.”
This news comes in the wake of budget cuts which are affecting fire and rescue teams throughout the United Kingdom.
Investigation underway into Levenshulme tyre yard fire
It has been confirmed that police are now investigating a large blaze at a tyre recycling centre in Manchester on Monday which led to road closures.
Greater Manchester Police are treating the fire, which began at 6:15am on Monday morning, as a possible arson attack.
The fire had such an impact that motorists were warned not to travel through Levenshulme as fire crews battled to control the raging inferno at the tyre depot situated on Sandfold Lane.
The radio and internet appeals to avoid the area were necessary as the blaze caused thick black smoke clouds to rise across the area. Schools were also warned to keep all doors and windows closed, while roads around Sandfold Lane and Mount Road were closed to give fire crews full access to the yard.
It was reported that hundreds of tyres had been destroyed in the fire and it took around 50 firefighters to combat the blaze using aerial extension ladders. The fire was eventually brought under control allowing fire crews to damp down the area.
The arson probe is now underway as police work with the fire service to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the fire.
No injuries were reported following this incident.
Widespread opposition to fire service cuts
It has been revealed today in new research that the majority of people are against the possibility of funding cuts to the fire service.
YouGov conducted a survey on behalf of the Fire Brigades Union with more than a thousand adults questioned.
Results showed that over 90 percent of them would prefer the volume of firefighters on the frontline to either remain the same, or even be greater.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said:
“The Government, in planning to cut frontline firefighters, is acting in direct opposition to the view of the overwhelming majority of the British people.
“It is not true that, when we oppose cuts, we are acting in the interests of firefighters alone. We are acting to protect a service that saves lives and one that the public values highly.”
The research by the consulting group also found that 90 percent of people saw the fire and rescue service in the UK as being good value for money.
The Fire Brigades Union believes that a number of firefighter jobs up and down the country will be lost due to the reduction in public spending by the Government. It is also on the brink of industrial action in London regarding new contracts.
Fire breaks out in hotel kitchen
A hotel in Bonnyrigg, a town in Midlothian, Scotland, had to be evacuated on Sunday morning following a blaze which ripped through the kitchen.
Around 26 firefighters were called to the Retreat Castle Hotel on Cockpen Road, which is to the southeast of Edinburgh city centre, and they battled to prevent the fire spreading from the kitchen extension to the main building.
The hotel’s owner Peter Hood had to ensure that his staff members, family and six guests who were staying at the residence at the time of the fire were removed from the hotel once fire alarms alerted him to the impending danger.
Mr Hood described the scene when he said:
“It was really quite terrifying being in the middle of all that smoke with alarms bells going off everywhere. I’m still a state of shock.
“I could barely see where I was going as I struggled through the corridors to evacuate the guests, and I couldn’t find my way out because the smoke was so thick and black.
“The children were also very shaken, but they’re fine now. They are more concerned about the peacocks we keep in the grounds, which they are very fond of. Thankfully they were unharmed.”
There were no reported injuries following the blaze in the listed property, which dates back to 1640, although the kitchen was destroyed in the fire.
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