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Shropshire Fire: Crisis Calls Strain Resources
30 Mar
Summary
- Fire chief reports 3-5 crisis calls weekly, often water-related.
- Service spent £100,000 on water rescue, received £1,800 funding.
- Staff face new trauma from crisis interventions, requiring training.
Shropshire's fire chief has revealed a significant increase in 999 calls from individuals experiencing crises, many involving water rescue situations. These incidents, occurring three to five times weekly, are placing considerable emotional and financial pressure on the fire service.
Firefighters are increasingly exposed to what is described as a "new type of trauma event," different from traditional emergencies. This has prompted the service to implement "negotiator-type" training to better prepare staff for these challenging interventions.
The financial burden is substantial, with over £100,000 spent on water rescue capability in two years, contrasted with a mere £1,800 in funding. While there's no legal obligation for fire services to attend water incidents, Shropshire's service upholds a moral commitment to respond.
This situation underscores a wider funding gap nationally for such specialized responses. The service emphasizes its unwavering commitment to public safety, despite the resource challenges, and calls for a national-level solution to address these growing pressures.
