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Fire Brigades Union (FBU) vehicle dispute

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pemma

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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.”


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.
 
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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.
It sounds rather like the Fire Service equivalent of PCSOs / CHIMPS* in the Police.

* PCSO nickname, standing for Completely Hopeless In Most Policing Situations
 

pemma

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In Knutsford we seem to get a PCSO who has just done a degree and after a year he or she moves on to doing something else and we get a new one. It's almost like the position is seen as an internship.
 

Geezertronic

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They already have these in Birmingham - you see them every so often. Not sure where they are stationed but I've seen one in Bickenhill Fire Station
 

pemma

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They already have these in Birmingham - you see them every so often. Not sure where they are stationed but I've seen one in Bickenhill Fire Station

The article says they've been operating for some time from 2 Cheshire fire stations but the union aren't happy with the proposal for a wide spread rollout.
 
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