NORTH YORKSHIRE /
Brigade Secretary: Steve Howley
Brigade Chair: Kelvin Thewlis
April 2014
Dear North Yorkshire Resident
The Fire Brigades Union would like to bring to your attention North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS) Fire Cover Review.
This Review will impact on how the Fire Service responds in North Yorkshire from 2016.
NYFRS says it is conducting this Fire Cover Review for the following reasons;
- To balance cost and resources provided relative to risk, in any given area, and to ensure, as far as possible, that the provision of resources relative to risk is similar across the whole Service area.
- To take account of the impact of over 30% reduction in calls over the last 10 years.
- To provide a response that is appropriate for increasingly frequent large weather related events.
- To provide a model that is capable of delivering savings according to the financial constraints over the life of this review.
NYFRS is attempting to gather feedback on how they are proposing to undertake its Fire Cover Review and what should be considered within it. It has given a deadline for this feedback information as 2nd May 2014. They are asking you to help them make difficult decisions.
North Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union (NYFBU) opposes any cuts, in any form, to the Fire Service in North Yorkshire.
We do not believe that NYFRS has taken enough steps to fully brief the residents and businesses in North Yorkshire about its Fire Cover Review.
We do not believe NYFRS has done enough to seek out alternative ways to save money including sharing departmental directors and backroom services.
For this reason we are asking that you share, with your Parish Councils, business, communities, friends, relatives and neighbours the information that NYFRS is fully reviewing its fire cover.
What This Really Means
This means that NYFRS will look at reducing its number of fire stations.
This means that NYFRS will look at reducing the size, functionality and number of its fire engines.
This means that NYFRS will look at reducing the number of Firefighters on duty.
If any of the above happens, response times will increase and it will take longer for a fire engine to get to you. This will put people, homes and businesses at greater risk. It will also put Firefighters at greater risk.
Two recent large scale incidents, a tyre storage fire and a town centre restaurant fire, saw NYFRS stretched to dangerous levels.
We need You, the people of North Yorkshire, to ensure that this Fire Cover Review is conducted honestly and transparently. www.northyorksfire.gov.uk
If you do not understand the information NYFRS has provided about the Fire Cover Review you must let them know.
NYFRS has not made any challenge to the Fire Minister regarding the reduction of its annual budget.
There is no statutory duty for NYFRS, or any Fire and Rescue Service, to respond to water related or flooding incidents. i.e. NYFRS does not receive any additional funding for incidents of this type, yet it has enhanced its resilience and response over the last few years from within the same budget.
The reduction in calls is a direct result of Wholetime firefighters continued prevention activities over the last fifteen years.
The Fire Cover Review is a money saving exercise which will put lives, property and the county of North Yorkshire at greater risk.
Firefighters take great pride in protecting the people of North Yorkshire. To be able to continue this, we are asking that you help to protect them and enable them to continue safely in their work.
Please take the time to have your say. Please help us protect your Fire and Rescue Service.
We welcome constructive feedback to this request for support in protecting your Fire Service.
North Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union.
Kelvin Thewlis
North Yorkshire
Fire Brigades Union
Brigade Chair
Tel 07970148720
" Strength in Unity "