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| Fire chiefs deny cutback claims | Fire chiefs deny cutback claims |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Plans are being put forward to modernise the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, which has Wales' highest fire death rate. | |
| Unions claim firefighters' jobs will be lost under the action plan but the service denies there will be a reduction in engine crewing levels. | Unions claim firefighters' jobs will be lost under the action plan but the service denies there will be a reduction in engine crewing levels. |
| The plans include teaching fire safety and cutting the number of times crews are called to automatic fire alarms. | The plans include teaching fire safety and cutting the number of times crews are called to automatic fire alarms. |
| The service said it aimed to make most efficient use of time and resources. | |
| The only noticeable difference for the public will be an increase in community fire safety work Colin Hanks, assistant chief fire officer | |
| Ten people died in fires in the region between April 2006 and March 2007, a figure which the region's chief fire officer calls "totally unacceptable". | |
| In the service's annual action plan, which will be discussed by the authority's executive panel later, there is extra emphasis on preventing fires from spreading in the first place. | In the service's annual action plan, which will be discussed by the authority's executive panel later, there is extra emphasis on preventing fires from spreading in the first place. |
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| Colin Hanks, assistant chief fire officer, said the plans had been formulated to "create a modern, efficient service that offers the best service possible to all of those who live, travel and work in North Wales". | Colin Hanks, assistant chief fire officer, said the plans had been formulated to "create a modern, efficient service that offers the best service possible to all of those who live, travel and work in North Wales". |
| He said free smoke detectors and fire safety advice would be provided to 30,000 homes this year, and would continue this service for the next 10 years. | He said free smoke detectors and fire safety advice would be provided to 30,000 homes this year, and would continue this service for the next 10 years. |
| Crewing levels | Crewing levels |
| But Mr Hanks promised that a new rostering system for firefighters would not mean any deterioration in emergency responses. | But Mr Hanks promised that a new rostering system for firefighters would not mean any deterioration in emergency responses. |
| "There is no intention whatsoever in this draft action plan to reduce crewing levels on fire engines - a point which should provide real reassurance for the members of the public. | "There is no intention whatsoever in this draft action plan to reduce crewing levels on fire engines - a point which should provide real reassurance for the members of the public. |
| "The only noticeable difference for the public will be an increase in community fire safety work." | "The only noticeable difference for the public will be an increase in community fire safety work." |
| Mr Hanks said they want to cut the number of times they are called to false alarm calls generated by automatic fire alarms. | Mr Hanks said they want to cut the number of times they are called to false alarm calls generated by automatic fire alarms. |
| He said: "Such calls, which average eight per day, represent a waste of time and money and needlessly place the lives of our firefighters and the public in danger. | He said: "Such calls, which average eight per day, represent a waste of time and money and needlessly place the lives of our firefighters and the public in danger. |
| But the Fire Brigades' Union said the action plan was appallingly poor and contained no detail. | But the Fire Brigades' Union said the action plan was appallingly poor and contained no detail. |
| It said 29 firefighters would lose their jobs under the proposals, which would leave the service running with a bare minimum of staff. | It said 29 firefighters would lose their jobs under the proposals, which would leave the service running with a bare minimum of staff. |
| John Purser, brigade secretary for the union in north Wales, said: "At the moment, we only have 212 whole-time fire fighters in north Wales who actually go to fires. | John Purser, brigade secretary for the union in north Wales, said: "At the moment, we only have 212 whole-time fire fighters in north Wales who actually go to fires. |
| "Those 29 posts would be lost for good and it's going to severely affect fire cover in north Wales." | "Those 29 posts would be lost for good and it's going to severely affect fire cover in north Wales." |
| He said the union accepted that the fire service had to be both pro-active and reactive in its responses, but added "but until we've got proper fire precautions in the home, i.e. sprinklers, we're always going to need the fire service". | He said the union accepted that the fire service had to be both pro-active and reactive in its responses, but added "but until we've got proper fire precautions in the home, i.e. sprinklers, we're always going to need the fire service". |