Firefighters: 'proposed cuts would have made toll worse'

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Feb 1, 2004 | by Neil Mackay

THE Scottish fire service was engaged in a fierce war of words last night in the wake of the Uddingston care home tragedy, with firefighters claiming their bosses and the Executive are putting lives at risk, and fire chiefs accusing the brigade union of offensive opportunism and misinformed scaremongering.

Ken Ross, Scottish secretary of the Fire Brigades' Union, said management proposals to overhaul the fire service in Strathclyde would lead to tragedies like Uddingston claiming more lives. He said the proposals would reduce the number of active stations, fire engines and firefighters.

He also said only one fire engine - rather than the current two and a turntable ladder appliance - would attend premises with fire alarms, like Rosepark Care Home, under the reforms.

"They are gambling with people's lives," said Ross, adding that Jeff Ord, the Strathclyde firemaster, also supported reducing fire cover at night.

"Some 75% of fire deaths occur during the hours of 1am and 5am," Ross said, claiming that if only one appliance had been sent to the Uddingston care home, then more elderly residents would have died.

"The proposals are massively dangerous. To reduce fire cover is reckless - the Uddingston tragedy showed in the starkest terms we don't need reductions, we need increased resources, funding and cover."

Ross also said the FBU had been seeking to meet the justice minister, Cathy Jamieson, whose remit covers the service, to discuss their concerns. "We contacted her three weeks ago and she has still not responded. This incident shows we have to meet her urgently tomorrow morning."

But Ord savaged the FBU, claiming their comments were "scurrilous" and "scaremongering". He added: "I find it astounding to the point of being offensive, when there are people fighting for their lives and relatives still being informed about the loss of their loved ones, that the FBU is taking this opportunity to raise these issues."

He said the FBU had been given assurances that premises like the care home would not have cover reduced under the reforms. He added: "Mr Ross is being extremely insensitive and misinformed."

Ord also denied he was in favour of reducing fire cover at night, saying: "Statistics show we could do that, but my advice is that we shouldn't." He claimed the new proposals would ensure fire crews "were in the right place at the right time" and there would be no risk to public safety.

Jamieson said a probe into the Uddingston fire "will show what lessons we can learn from this tragedy". The justice minister said: "It is not true that the fire response would have been lesser under the plans currently out to consultation. There is no question of withdrawing night-time cover and no plans to reduce the number of fire engines."

Jamieson said she met regularly with the FBU and its concerns have been put to brigades "to take into account". A meeting had also been offered with Executive officials.