Knutsford Guardian said:Firefighters have blasted the ‘ridiculous’ decision to use pick-up trucks with a single fire extinguisher for some incidents - and several have refused to crew the vehicles on safety grounds.
Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) says the rapid response rescue units (RRRUs) have operated safely from Holmes Chapel and Sandbach fire stations for the past 13 years.
The service is now planning to expand their use to include another 11 stations - Knutsford, Middlewich, Stockton Heath, Alsager, Audlem, Frodsham, Malpas, Nantwich, Sandbach, Tarporley and Bollington.
But the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) believes there is a serious breach of health and safety guidelines and lives will be at put at risk.
Andrew Fox-Hewitt, FBU Cheshire brigade secretary, said usually at least four firefighters would be sent to incidents in a fire engine.
Just two or three will go in an RRRU.
Mr Fox-Hewitt said: “We’ve seen cuts before but this is beyond farcical.
“It is a disastrous plan that will end in damage to the health and safety of firefighters and the public alike – how can firefighters be expected to tackle house fires or a car fire with a single fire extinguisher or without any respiratory protection?
“This is a ridiculous plan with little proper assessment or planning and we are appalled that this is even being considered. The union will use all tools at its disposal to protect the health and safety of its members.”
Firefighters refuse 'disastrous plan' to crew ‘pick-up trucks’ on safety grounds, union says
Firefighters have blasted the ‘ridiculous’ decision to use pick-up trucks with a single fire extinguisher for some incidents - and several have…
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What CFRS are keeping quiet about is they are planning to roll out the pick up trucks with fire extinguishers to 'on call' fire stations, that have already been downgraded from full fire stations in favour of a reduced number of full fire stations. I think fire crews should always have access to a full fire engine. Otherwise it could make on call fire stations a bit like the fire equivalent to a first responder, who may be first on the scene but is unable to do the work that a crew from a full fire station can do.