FIREFIGHTERS in Thames Valley have criticised proposals to change how they respond to automatic calls from alarm systems.
Members of the Southern Region Fire Brigades Union have raised a number of concerns amid proposals to reduce the fire response to alarm systems fitted in public buildings.
Buildings such as schools, offices, factories, and hospitality venues are often fitted with alarm systems which automatically contact fire services when activated.
This means that firefighters can gain vital time and increase the likelihood of tackling the fire early, before it spreads.
Now fire and rescue services across Thames Valley have begun consultation on proposals to reduce, or potentially remove, these automatic responses in a bid to cut the number of false alarms dealt with by firefighters.
Earlier this month Surrey Fire and Rescue Service announced it would not be automatically responding to alarms, as 98% of the automatic calls were deemed to be false alarms between October 2022 and March last year.
The Fire Brigades Union has criticised proposals, raising concerns over the “compromise” of both community and firefighter safety as a result of subsequent delays in response times.
They argue that fires will be more dangerous to tackle on average, due to the longer overall response time, endangering not only the buildings and inhabitants, but making the fires harder and more dangerous to tackle.
They have also said that there were concerns over how the union and its members were consulted on the idea.
Mark Chapman, Fire Brigades Union regional secretary for Thames Valley said: “The critical role of firefighters in responding to automatic fire alarms, and the need for timely intervention to prevent potential disasters is vital.
“The time delay these proposals could cause in attending to alarms could result in more developed fires, posing hazards to both firefighters and the public.
“Instead of introducing this dangerous policy in an attempt to downgrade the response of the fire and rescue service, an urgent investment in the fire and rescue service is needed to ensure it has the resources available to respond to all incidents”.
Paul Bremble, area manager at Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “RBFRS is consulting on changing the way it responds to automatic fire alarm notifications to ensure communities and firefighters are kept safe.
“This is due to 99% of the automatic fire alarm calls received for Berkshire being false alarms. Attending these types of incidents risks taking resources away from genuine emergencies and causes significant disruption to the delivery of essential services, such as providing safety advice and support to vulnerable members of the community and essential operational training.
“By attending fewer AFAs, we can prioritise attending real emergencies where people need our help.
He explained: “We will continue to send fire engines to automatic fire alarm notifications at higher risk buildings, where anyone sleeps, such as hotels, hospitals, care homes, houses, and flats.
“Most importantly, the Service will continue to maintain an emergency response to 999 calls, confirmed fires and to automatic fire alarm notifications from residential homes.”
members of the public are able to have their say via the consultation page at: rbfrs.co.uk/your-service/consultation-and-engagement-hub
“The proposed changes do not offer monetary savings – our focus is solely on reducing risk by minimising disruption to key activities. No decisions have been made and feedback to our consultation will help the Fire Authority to determine the best course of action.
“The consultation will close on 13 May so we are encouraging everyone to take the time to have their say on the proposals outlined at rbfrs.co.uk/haveyoursay.”
