Full-time fire plans are rejected

Part-time retained crews make up most of the brigade's crews

Not all parts of Cornwall will get extra crews to provide 24-hour fire cover, it has been announced.

County councillors rejected plans for up to 15 full-time fire stations around the county saying the proposals would not be cost-effective.

Demands for more full-time crews have increased since the Penhallow Hotel fire in Newquay in August 2007.

Part-time retained crews currently account for most of Cornwall County Fire Brigade crews.

Retained crews staff stations during the day or are called to duty from home or work.

Population rises

Councillors around the county, particularly in resort areas including Newquay, have demanded that fire cover be increased to a 24-hour service all year round because the strong use of retained crews did not give enough protection.

Three people died in a fire at Newquay's Penhallow Hotel.

Although 23 appliances dealt with the incident, critics said more full-time crews were needed to deal with any emergencies that could arise.

Earlier this year, Newquay councillor Denis Dent demanded 24-hour cover particularly because the town's population rose from 20,000 to about 100,000 during busy tourism periods.

The rejected plans had proposed adding up to 13 extra full-time crews to the two already in service.

'Realistic' provision

However, after the council decision, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Ted Simpson said the council could not afford to provide the extra cover.

He said: "A small fire becomes a big fire if you do not deal with it quickly, and we would like to have more resources right across the country.

"But the truth is that the fire service, like any other department of the county council, does not have an open cheque book.

"We have to work within our resources and we have to be realistic about what we can and cannot provide."

He added: "The county council takes this matter extremely seriously and they've debated it long and hard."