Government funding cuts will “put lives at risk” warns Fire Brigades Union

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published its local Government settlement on 3 February. This document reveals the amount of central funding that will be given to Fire and Rescue Services in England from April 2025. It emerges that central funding will increase by just 1.4% on average. CPI inflation is running at circa 2.5%.

Central funding for Fire and Rescue Services in England will be £999 million, representing an increase of £13.4 million in cash terms. In 2013-14, central funding was £1.24 billion at a time when prices were substantially lower.

Local authorities will now be left to decide whether to increase local taxes in an attempt to fill some (or all) of the shortfall. The FBU has warned that this will further exacerbate the fragmentation of the Fire and Rescue Service and the ‘postcode lottery’ when it comes to response times.

After 15 years of austerity which has seen one-in-five firefighter jobs scrapped, the FBU is campaigning for a substantial increase to fund public safety. It’ also calling for a decent pay rise for firefighters in the wake of substantial real terms cuts since 2010.

Government must “think again”

“Next time there is a fire, a flood or an extreme weather event,” asserted Wright, “members of the public will ask why their Fire and Rescue Service is unable to respond effectively. The Fire Brigades Union urges the Government to think again and deliver the investment we need to keep people safe.”

Wright continued: “This funding settlement is a real-terms cut to Fire and Rescue Services across England. Even in cash terms, it will leave central Government funding lower than it was a decade ago. These cuts put lives at risk. We have lost one-in-five firefighter jobs since 2010, while response times are the worst they’ve ever been.”

Further, Wright noted: “Labour was elected on the promise of change. There is already a postcode lottery on fire cover and a lack of central Government funding will make fragmentation even worse. In some areas, local authorities will raise Council Tax in order to cover the shortfall. In others, they may choose to cut Fire and Rescue Service monies even more.”

Wright asserted: “We are clear that we must see a substantial real terms improvement in pay following 15 years of falling wages. It’s time for Keir Starmer to go after the ‘super rich’ and big business, rather than asking workers and the public to stomach more cuts to what are vital front line services.”

Protecting firefighters’ health

Wright has also written to public health minister Andrew Gwynne calling for urgent health checks for firefighters following the latest research into the impact of exposure to fire contaminants.

In January, the University of Central Lancashire issued study results where it was found that 136 of the 524 firefighters exposed to smoke at the Grenfell Tower fire reported life-changing health conditions just three years later. These included 11 cases of cancer, 64 of respiratory diseases, 22 neurological disorders and 66 digestive illnesses.

The Trade Union is calling for regular health monitoring for UK firefighters so that health conditions, including cancers, can be identified and treated early.

In an interview with LBC on 3 January, Government minister Gywnne stated: “Certainly, this is something that I’m more than happy to take away and look at seriously because we recognise that people who go ‘above and beyond’ by putting their own lives at risk in situations like Grenfell Tower may well end up with health issues as a consequence of their own work.”

In the communication, Wright calls for health monitoring for firefighters. ““The FBU reiterates its call for urgent talks with ministers about regular health checks for firefighters. The Government must make a firm commitment to deliver on health screening. There can be no prevarication or delay in protecting firefighters from life-threatening conditions.”

Wright added: “The UK is decades behind many comparable countries on this issue. Indeed, the findings of this report are likely to be the tip of the iceberg.”