Council members have once again expressed concern over the experiment involving reduced team sizes for on-call firefighters, particularly following an incident where a team of three opted to enter a burning building. This case is currently under scrutiny but resulted in a saved life, said Ben Adams, Staffordshire’s Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner, during a session. The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service launched an initiative last year, which lowered the required team size for a retained device from four to three firefighters.
Several council members have aired safety concerns and representatives of the Fire Brigades Union have publicly criticized the change. An update presented at the Police, Fire, and Crime Panel discussion unveiled that the program has led to an 11% increase in the availability of on-call appliances. Research also showed that, on average, a three-person crew reaching the scene first was almost 10 minutes faster than the subsequent fully-staffed appliance.
By the middle of September, on-call teams had responded to 587 emergency situations. The central concept is to ensure quicker, more frequent responses, retain on-call firefighters, and up the probability of recruitment – with this year seeing an increase of 23 in our teams. This is seen as encouraging news, considering the struggle over recent years to bolster our on-call firefighter units.
In our continued effort to improve the service, we’ve broadened the range of situations handled during the pilot to incorporate road traffic incidents. The test is ongoing, with key elements being discussed with the teams directly involved – the current outlook is promising, and it is believed to enhance community safety.
Cannock Chase councilor inquired, ‘Are you confident about the long-term sustainability of this initiative – taking into account persistent difficulties in recruiting and retaining on-call firefighters? Is my understanding correct that a team can’t enter a burning building if there are only three members?’ The Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner elaborated: ‘Usually, if a team of three is the first to arrive at a house fire, they would not tackle it single-handedly.
He went on saying, ‘However, there are exceptions as firefighters can make operational decisions at any incident for safety purposes. Generally, if a three-member team is the first on a house fire scene, their priorities would be to secure the area and set up equipment – essentially, augmenting the ability of the subsequent operational team to manage the situation.
‘The fiercest opposition, particularly from the Fire Brigades’ Union, firmly against this three-party crew idea, revolves around what they term as the moral dilemma, where a firefighter might feel compelled to act in such a circumstance. Their argument carries weight and it’s the central reason for this pilot, to gain a better understanding of the circumstances that firefighters are dealing with and define universally accepted actions.’
A councilor asked about any signs of anxiety or psychological stress among the firefighters during the pilot. He also queried if there were any cases during the pilot where on-call firefighters, operating in a team of three, felt ethically compelled to power against protocol and enter buildings during incidents.
The Commissioner responded saying, ‘I acknowledge that this is an area of concern for many. The pilot is underway, and I am confident in its safety measures. I am convinced that currently, it is producing positive results and enhancing safety for the inhabitants of Staffordshire. The current pilot guideline is clear – three-person crews are not intended to combat house fires, but exceptional circumstances might warrant a local decision. That’s part of their roles.’
He also added, ‘There has been an instance where a three-member team intervened during a house fire and saved a life. This particular case is now under active review.’