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| Union warns of deaths due to 21% cut to Yorkshire fire crews | Union warns of deaths due to 21% cut to Yorkshire fire crews |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A fire union has warned a 21% reduction in the number of frontline firefighters across Yorkshire will lead to deaths. | A fire union has warned a 21% reduction in the number of frontline firefighters across Yorkshire will lead to deaths. |
| Figures obtained by the BBC show there are now 2,101 full-time firefighters serving West, North and South Yorkshire, compared to 2,658 in 2010. | |
| In total, the budget for the fire services has been cut by £21.9m over the past five years with a further £15.2m due to be slashed by 2020. | |
| The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said cuts had put crews in a "moral dilemma". | The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said cuts had put crews in a "moral dilemma". |
| Pete Smith, FBU Yorkshire secretary, said: "We just don't have the manpower any more when we turn up on a job and ultimately, as harsh as it sounds, that will lead to deaths. | |
| "It's putting firefighters in a moral dilemma because the instinct will always be to run into a burning building. | "It's putting firefighters in a moral dilemma because the instinct will always be to run into a burning building. |
| "It's time that fire chiefs started holding the government to account." | "It's time that fire chiefs started holding the government to account." |
| Reduced public funding has led to firefighter cuts and a government push for emergency services to work more closely together. | Reduced public funding has led to firefighter cuts and a government push for emergency services to work more closely together. |
| Dave Walton, deputy chief fire officer for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We've seen austerity starting to bite. | Dave Walton, deputy chief fire officer for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We've seen austerity starting to bite. |
| "In West Yorkshire, we've taken the approach of tackling it head on. We've accepted it as an economic and political reality." | "In West Yorkshire, we've taken the approach of tackling it head on. We've accepted it as an economic and political reality." |
| As well as fewer full-time firefighters there are fewer retained firefighters as well as control room and support staff. | |
| Mike Penning, minister for policing, fire, criminal justice and victims, said over the past five years fire services had delivered significant savings while improving outcomes for the public. | Mike Penning, minister for policing, fire, criminal justice and victims, said over the past five years fire services had delivered significant savings while improving outcomes for the public. |
| "Since 2010, fire deaths have fallen by 21% and fire injuries requiring hospital treatment have fallen by 26%." | "Since 2010, fire deaths have fallen by 21% and fire injuries requiring hospital treatment have fallen by 26%." |
| He said fire services could continue to deliver savings by working with other emergency services as well as reducing back office functions. | He said fire services could continue to deliver savings by working with other emergency services as well as reducing back office functions. |