Fire Brigades Union warns of safety risks in Buckinghamshire service reduction plans

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service faces proposed cuts

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service could lose eight fire engines and two fire stations under new proposals from the county’s fire authority.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said the proposals would see the number of fire engines in the county fall from 30 to 22.

A meeting of the Liberal Democrat–run authority is scheduled for mid-November, where a public consultation could be approved.

The FBU said Buckinghamshire has already faced some of the deepest cuts in England, losing more than a third of its firefighters between 2010 and 2024.

The union said any further reduction in capacity would seriously undermine public safety.

It added that the authority should focus on rebuilding and strengthening the service rather than making further reductions.

FBU calls for investment and recruitment

Mitch Wallace, FBU brigade secretary for Buckinghamshire, said: “Buckinghamshire FBU has consistently campaigned for investment, growth and resilience in our service. This county has already suffered some of the worst cuts in England, with more than a third of firefighter posts gone.

“It’s time to focus on rebuilding, recruiting and retaining firefighters rather than cutting more resources.

“This is especially critical in harder-to-staff areas, where crewing shortages put lives at risk.

“The fire authority should be lobbying the government for the funding we desperately need.

“The priority must be to invest in recruitment, retention, and resources to protect every community in Buckinghamshire.”

Southern region representative criticises “hollowing out” of services

Chris Wycherley, FBU executive council member for the Southern region, said: “For too long, fire and rescue services have been hollowed out by systemic underfunding and short-sighted mismanagement. Fire stations and fire engines are not expendable – they are essential community assets that protect lives, homes and businesses.

“Every closure and every cut leaves communities more vulnerable and erodes response standards further. Cuts today mean weaker response tomorrow.

“To keep firefighters and the public safe, we must invest in our fire services and ensure firefighters are available when emergencies occur.

“Local authorities should join with the Fire Brigades Union in lobbying government for proper, sustained funding. The future of our service must be built on growth, resilience, and investment – not a dangerous race to the bottom.”

National leadership links cuts to wider resource shortages

Steve Wright, FBU general secretary, said: “This summer, firefighters from across England were called upon to travel to the South coast to battle a blazing wildfire due to a lack of resources. With the climate emergency resulting in increasingly severe major incidents, it’s clear that the fire and rescue service is in urgent need of investment.

“Losing resources locally threatens the safety of residents, and impacts fire cover everywhere.

“The only way to keep the public safe is to invest in crews, so that when an emergency happens there are firefighters available and ready to go.

“Cuts kill. The FBU is calling on Labour to put an end to this dangerous austerity, and the union encourages all fire authorities, councillors, MPs, and members of the public to join the call for funding.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The proposed reduction in fire engines and stations in Buckinghamshire raises concerns for fire and rescue managers, command officers and policymakers involved in operational planning and resource allocation.

Reduced frontline capacity could affect response times and coverage, particularly in rural or harder-to-staff areas, creating implications for community safety and mutual aid planning.

Procurement officers, training coordinators and local authority partners may also need to consider how workforce reductions impact recruitment, retention and readiness strategies.

For senior officers, the development reinforces the importance of sustained funding and advocacy for service resilience at both local and national levels.

This article was informed by information from the following source: The Fire Brigades Union