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Fire chiefs deny cutback claims Fire chiefs deny cutback claims
(about 7 hours later)
Plans are being put forward to modernise the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, which has Wales' highest fire death rate. Plans have been 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.
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 service said it aimed to make most efficient use of time and resources.
It agreed, however, to defer plans to introduce new rotas for full-time firefighters after the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it would cost jobs.
The only noticeable difference for the public will be an increase in community fire safety work Colin Hanks, assistant chief fire officerThe 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". The reorganisation of firefighters' rotas was among original proposals put forward to the North Wales Fire Authority's executive committee.
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. However, the committee asked fire service management to do more work on the proposals, which the FBU had claimed would cost 29 jobs.
    class="bulletList">The proposals include:
John Purser, brigade secretary for the union in north Wales, welcomed the decision to defer the proposal.
  • More emphasis on community work on fire prevention work
    		•  He added: "At the moment we think they have taken the sensible option. But we're still concerned, because this has only been deferred."
    Ten people died in fires in the region between April 2006 and March 2007, a figure which the region's chief fire officer called "totally unacceptable".
    In the service's annual action plan there is extra emphasis on preventing fires from spreading in the first place.
    The proposals included:
    • More emphasis on community work on fire prevention work
  • Cutting the number of times crews are called to automatic fire alarms
  • Cutting the number of times crews are called to automatic fire alarms
  • Introducing new rotas for full-time firefighters
  • Introducing new rotas for full-time firefighters
    • 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". The committee agreed on Monday to increase the number of home safety checks in North Wales to 30,000 a year.
    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. 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".
    Crewing levelsCrewing levels
    But Mr Hanks promised that a new rostering system for firefighters would not mean any deterioration in emergency responses. Speaking before the committee met, he had 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 wanted to cut the number of times they were 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. The FBU had 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.
    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."
    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".