Fire call-out cut plan criticised

Plans by fire service bosses in the West Midlands to send out engines only to the most serious incidents have been criticised by staff.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) raised concerns the proposals may risk lives.

However, the service says the plans are needed to cut time that is wasted tackling rubbish and grass fires, which rarely threaten lives.

The FBU is also concerned about plans to issue crews with equipment to treat patients with heart problems.

Water saving

The union said a plan to give each crew a defibrillator was like "having an ambulance service on the cheap".

In October, a High Court judge ruled that medical treatment was not a part of firefighters' normal duties.

Doug Tweddle, the assistant chief fire officer, said the idea of sending a van with a crew of three to small fires is only being considered at the moment.

He told BBC News: "They're working in Liverpool, and it would be remiss of us not to have a look to see if it's effective.

"We've had 75,000 secondary fires in the last five years. Most of these can be dealt with by a smaller unit.

"These smaller units have a more effective fire fighting capability with small fires because they use a foam suppression system that requires 80 per cent less water."