News
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FIREFIGHTERS HAVE WON BACKING FROM TUC FOR A NATIONAL WILDFIRE SUMMIT (20/09)
Firefighters have won backing from the TUC for a National Wildfire Summit and thousands more firefighters to tackle the growing threat of wildfires. Congress backed a composite motion on climate change that included the Fire Brigades Union’s demand for a summit and an increase in firefighter numbers and equipment. The vote means the whole trade union movement now supports the FBU’s campaign, which warns that there needs to be a wildfire strategy and greater resilience to help keep the public safe. One in five firefighter jobs has been lost since 2010 and the union is calling for 5,000 more as a starting point to ease pressure on the service.
Steve Wright, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said:
“The summer wildfires were a wakeup call for the whole country and show that we need more firefighters and greater resilience to deal with the challenges we face in the future. “Andy Burnham has agreed to chair a wildfire summit involving FBU, chief fire officers and other stakeholders which will be vital in establishing a national strategy to deal with the issue. “We have lost one in five firefighter jobs since 2010, and our firefighter and fire control members are stretched to their absolute limit. “Today’s support from the entire trade union movement underlines the importance of securing a date for the wildfire summit as soon as possible.”
(As wildfire numbers continue to rise, the National Fire Chiefs Council is calling for continued investment in specialist capability, equipment and national resilience.)
MAN BAILED AFTER PEWSEY FIRE SEES HOMES EVACUATED AND FIVE CARS BURN (24/06)
To open the report, click HERE.
EX DEPUTY CHIEF CLAIMS HE WAS ‘SCAPEGOATED’ (23/06)
An ex-deputy fire chief who retired amid claims his service operated with a “culture of fear” said he was made a scapegoat.
To open the full report, click HERE.
HMICFRS REPORT TO DORSET & WILTSHIRE FRS (23/06)
To open the full letter, click HERE
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES £97m WILDFIRE INVESTMENT — What It Means for the Service (21/06)
The government has announced a major package of specialist wildfire teams and nearly £100 million in National Resilience investment. We break down what’s been announced, what it means for firefighters on the ground, and why it matters heading into peak wildfire season.
To view the full article, click HERE
THREAT OF FIRE STATION CLOSURES (18/06)
CFO Statement – updated recommendations – 18th June, 2026
Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole said: “Since the Members Working Group met in early June, I have received further information in relation to our funding position which means I have made a further amendment to my professional advice to them.
Alongside the consultation process and discussions around future funding, I’ve been looking at every opportunity available to improve the Service’s financial position and remove the need for station closures and job losses. One of those opportunities was a bid to Government for funding to support work we have been doing around innovation, data, technology and service improvement. I am really pleased that this has been successful and secured the Service £1.8 million of one-off Government funding, which we will receive imminently.
This one-off funding does not resolve the Authority’s long-term financial position and we continue to face a deficit in future years, however it does provide more time for the Service to make changes through our modernisation programme.
I have said throughout the process that my advice to Members would change if the financial position changed. The Members Working Group have considered my advice and revised their recommendation for the Authority on 30 June:
For the Fire Authority:
- to agree that all eight fire stations, namely, Bradford on Avon, Cranborne, Charmouth, Hamworthy, Maiden Newton, Mere, Ramsbury and Wilton fire stations remain open;
- to agree to the implementation of the Service Modernisation Programme;
Subject to;
- the Authority being granted flexibility to raise council tax precept to at least the national average for fire services for 2027/28,
- the subsequent approval of the council tax precept rise by the Authority at its meeting in February 2027; and
- there are no other and further reductions in funding
Should these conditions not be met the Fire Authority agree that all eight fire stations will be closed.
The next step of the process is for Fire Authority Members to consider and vote on the recommendations on the 30 June, we will then continue lobbying central government for the fire precept flexibility which will be confirmed in February 2027.