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Fighting fires isn’t the half of it. We can’t take more cuts Fighting fires isn’t the half of it. We can’t take more cuts
(6 months later)
The biggest ever disaster-training exercise for emergency services took place last week. Hundreds of “casualties” with realistic bloody wounds inhabited a disused power station. Bloodcurdling screams for help issued from the eight upended tube carriages that had been hit by an imaginary building falling on them at a mocked-up Waterloo station, with the casualties banging against the windows in panic. Fake blood was smeared over ticket barriers and train carriages. The only real element were the hundreds of firefighters who, along with other emergency services workers, conducted a simulated rescue that was off the scale in terms of what has been done previously to improve co-ordination and planning during a major disaster.The biggest ever disaster-training exercise for emergency services took place last week. Hundreds of “casualties” with realistic bloody wounds inhabited a disused power station. Bloodcurdling screams for help issued from the eight upended tube carriages that had been hit by an imaginary building falling on them at a mocked-up Waterloo station, with the casualties banging against the windows in panic. Fake blood was smeared over ticket barriers and train carriages. The only real element were the hundreds of firefighters who, along with other emergency services workers, conducted a simulated rescue that was off the scale in terms of what has been done previously to improve co-ordination and planning during a major disaster.
The aim was to recreate realistic challenges for firefighters and others in an emergency. The firsthand experiences of firefighters were used to design the various scenarios. Lessons learned from 7/7 and other disasters of recent years were brought together to test our emergency services and improve planning and preparation.The aim was to recreate realistic challenges for firefighters and others in an emergency. The firsthand experiences of firefighters were used to design the various scenarios. Lessons learned from 7/7 and other disasters of recent years were brought together to test our emergency services and improve planning and preparation.
The exercise was a practical demonstration of the range of work of the modern firefighter. It has been evolving in line with the changing threats faced by our communities, and our members have been working jointly with other emergency services for many years. Collaborative working goes to the heart of the debate about the future of the fire and rescue service. It comes at a time when the worst ever cuts to the service are being implemented. Recent announcements of even deeper cuts to public services have instilled real fear among professional firefighters that the service is effectively going to be dismantled. Where does this leave public safety?The exercise was a practical demonstration of the range of work of the modern firefighter. It has been evolving in line with the changing threats faced by our communities, and our members have been working jointly with other emergency services for many years. Collaborative working goes to the heart of the debate about the future of the fire and rescue service. It comes at a time when the worst ever cuts to the service are being implemented. Recent announcements of even deeper cuts to public services have instilled real fear among professional firefighters that the service is effectively going to be dismantled. Where does this leave public safety?
Related: Cuts are hitting UK firefighters where it matters most: training to fight fires
Since 2010, more than 7,000 firefighter jobs have been lost, 40 fire stations closed and response times are longer than they have been in 20 years. At Westminster, there is no joined up thinking about fire and rescue. The disaster exercise, organised by the London fire brigade with funding from the EU, drew on teams and resources from across England. Fire and rescue requires the sharing of resources and national, as well as local, planning. Getting rid of a fire station and crew in one part of the country has implications beyond county boundaries. Threats to specialist flood teams or urban search and rescue teams undermine our national capability. We need to be able to plan for threats such as floods or terrorism without worrying about borders and boundaries.Since 2010, more than 7,000 firefighter jobs have been lost, 40 fire stations closed and response times are longer than they have been in 20 years. At Westminster, there is no joined up thinking about fire and rescue. The disaster exercise, organised by the London fire brigade with funding from the EU, drew on teams and resources from across England. Fire and rescue requires the sharing of resources and national, as well as local, planning. Getting rid of a fire station and crew in one part of the country has implications beyond county boundaries. Threats to specialist flood teams or urban search and rescue teams undermine our national capability. We need to be able to plan for threats such as floods or terrorism without worrying about borders and boundaries.
The government claims the recent ministerial takeover of fire and rescue by the Home Office (from local government) is “in order to support a radical transformation of how the police and fire and rescue services work together”. Along with proposals for police and crime commissioners to take responsibility for fire and rescue, this is a diversion from the serious debate about the future of our service. It is a debate between the Fire Brigades Union and fire service employers. It is disgraceful that government ministers show no interest in the future of the service, except to periodically repeat their tired old mantra, “fires are down,” intended as justification for taking away even more critical resources for rescues of all kinds.The government claims the recent ministerial takeover of fire and rescue by the Home Office (from local government) is “in order to support a radical transformation of how the police and fire and rescue services work together”. Along with proposals for police and crime commissioners to take responsibility for fire and rescue, this is a diversion from the serious debate about the future of our service. It is a debate between the Fire Brigades Union and fire service employers. It is disgraceful that government ministers show no interest in the future of the service, except to periodically repeat their tired old mantra, “fires are down,” intended as justification for taking away even more critical resources for rescues of all kinds.
Although just 4,000 out of the 38,000 rescues carried out last year by firefighters were from fires, they still kill people. Making our response times slower and slower can only worsen risks to public safety. In addition, firefighters are involved in road traffic accidents, chemical spillages, terrorist attacks, flood work, bariatric rescues (lifting obese people out of spaces they can’t exit), building collapses and lift rescues. Ministers are keen to be photographed when firefighters are in action. The politician in wellies, standing by a group of emergency service workers, has become something of an overused joke in relation to the floods. Yet the real issues which such incidents flag up are glossed over or ignored once the initial crisis has passed. This has caused deep frustration and anger among firefighters over many years. The message seems to be, “Well done, boys and girls … but don’t bring me your complaints and concerns.”Although just 4,000 out of the 38,000 rescues carried out last year by firefighters were from fires, they still kill people. Making our response times slower and slower can only worsen risks to public safety. In addition, firefighters are involved in road traffic accidents, chemical spillages, terrorist attacks, flood work, bariatric rescues (lifting obese people out of spaces they can’t exit), building collapses and lift rescues. Ministers are keen to be photographed when firefighters are in action. The politician in wellies, standing by a group of emergency service workers, has become something of an overused joke in relation to the floods. Yet the real issues which such incidents flag up are glossed over or ignored once the initial crisis has passed. This has caused deep frustration and anger among firefighters over many years. The message seems to be, “Well done, boys and girls … but don’t bring me your complaints and concerns.”
Yet, firefighters don’t want praise and pats on the back. They want their professional views and concerns listened to and taken account of. They do a fantastic job 365 days a year and much of their work is never seen. They are there to prevent or tackle the multiple dangers we all hope we can avoid – but which we know need to be planned and prepared for. Give them the tools and resources they need, and they will be proud to get on with the job.Yet, firefighters don’t want praise and pats on the back. They want their professional views and concerns listened to and taken account of. They do a fantastic job 365 days a year and much of their work is never seen. They are there to prevent or tackle the multiple dangers we all hope we can avoid – but which we know need to be planned and prepared for. Give them the tools and resources they need, and they will be proud to get on with the job.