By Local Democracy Reporter Simon Finlay
Firefighters in Kent could go on strike over proposed job losses and station closures.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said “nothing is off the table” in Kent as it examines options to oppose the plans as well as changes to shift patterns.
Union bosses say that 76 part-time ‘on call’ firefighters’ jobs (out of 437 in Kent) could be vulnerable while five fire stations may close under the proposed changes.
There are currently 578 full-time operational firefighters in Kent at 56 fire stations, according to the union.
The consultation proposals comprise the closure of five on-call fire stations at Grain, Wye, Chilham, Westerham and Cliffe and removing on-call sections from four other “wholetime” stations at Herne Bay, Deal, Tunbridge Wells and Faversham.
A 12-week consultation begins with the decision-making body, the Kent & Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (KMFRA), on Thursday.
The KMRFA is the governing body of the Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), which is proposing the changes.
FBU leaders met with three Reform UK Kent County Council (KCC) members on Monday evening.
FBU regional chair Tim Green said the talks with Cllrs Thomas Mallon, Trevor Shonk and James Defriend – who are all KMFRA board members – were “very constructive”.
Cllr Mallon, who chairs the board, declined to comment before the KMFRA annual meeting on Thursday. Twenty-one KCC members sit on the board.
Mr Green said: “The discussions were very constructive with the Reform councillors asking a lot of questions and drilling into the details.
“But the fact remains that we are opposed to the proposed changes and nothing is off the table in Kent and that includes industrial action.”
There are also plans to change shift patterns and the relocation of fire engines to meet daytime demand.
KFRS Chief Executive Ann Millington said: “The consultation depends on the fire authority approving our proposals to go forward, which are based on risk intelligence and data analysis. This is about spending money in the right ways to tackle our biggest risks, while competing with financial pressures.
“I understand some people will have concerns about the proposed changes, but I can assure everyone that your fire service is here for you.
“Your firefighters continue to do a fantastic job, with first class kit and training facilities, and teams across the service are doing brilliant work to prevent fires and other emergencies through education, enforcement, campaigning and community work.
“The number of fires in Kent and Medway has dropped over the years in good part because of our prevention work – tailored home visits, putting up free smoke alarms and helping people who are most at risk of fires.
“But risks also keep changing, for example, we’re seeing more wildfires, so we need to be changing too, to meet those needs.”
Mrs Millington said fire stations are “not closed lightly” and none has been in 14 years.
She added: “We carefully consider whether the investment in these stations and fire engines can be better spent in other areas.
“For example, freeing up money to invest in more wholetime firefighters, or putting money into targeted prevention activity that helps to drive down the likelihood of fires occurring in the first place. We will have targeted prevention activity in areas affected by station closures.”
The FBU says on-call members earn around £6 -7,000 a year on average for being on standby 50 hours a week.
The union said the loss of on-call firefighters would be mitigated by seven proposed full-time operational replacement roles, which the reservists can apply for.
On-call firefighters often perform their duties alongside a full-time job.
A rally organised by the FBU is due to take place at 9am before the KMFRA meeting on Thursday at Straw Mill Hill, Tovil, Maidstone.
I fully support the fire persons, they know best what assets are required to cover the area safely. The politicians better hope they never require the services of the team!
When the Titanic sank, it had far too few lifeboats, because it was considered to be unsinkable.
Since then, every commercial ship has carried more provision than is actually needed.
Fire prevention activities, and the fitting of free smoke alarms in homes are excellent.
But they don’t replace fire fighters.
Surprise, surprise!
2 years after public “service” unions struck en masse with the installation of a new Labour Prime Minister, history is about to repeat itself.
Whilst businesses of all sorts are closing due to Socialism and Socialists, throwing tens of thousands into dole queues. Those remunerated from the taxes that these wealth generators would have produced are holding their bowls out doing another Oliver Twist.
Those with the ceaseless demand to redistribute wealth are serially oblivious as to how wealth is generated and indifferent – other than avarice – to those who generate it.
Btw. I’m 65 years of age, raised 4 children and never needed the services of a firefighter. Only one person I ever knew has… when they fell asleep with a chip pan on the gas. Most fires are a result of stupidity or negligence.
Why can they retire on the pension after 20 years service, same as the police ,but paramedics cannot.I know one fireman retired in his early forties on full pension .