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Concerns over firefighters response to 999 calls

Fire crews are breaching response time targets at a time when they are being hit by cuts
Fire crews are breaching response time targets at a time when they are being hit by cuts Fire crews are breaching response time targets at a time when they are being hit by cuts

THE Fire Service is failing to attend more than four-out-of-10 emergency calls within its six minute target time.

The drop in performance over the last five years comes as fire chiefs warn of the dire impact of planned cuts to its budget for this financial year.

Attendance response times to fires and incidents deemed "high risk" dropped to 59 per cent per cent within the target time last year - compared with more than 75 per cent in 2010. Medium risk and low risk call-out also decreased in terms of meeting targets.

The figures related to 'first appliance' vehicles being called to the scene. However, targets were also badly hit in relation to second vehicles.

The development comes as members of the Assembly's Health Committee reveal increasing concerns about public safety and risks to firefighters after the service suffered a 5.5 budget cut.

A total of £3.4 m has been allocated to the Northern Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) budget for 2015/16, a figure which former health minister Jim Wells acknowledged was "less than they wished for".

Fearghal McKinney, a SDLP health committee member, said they had received correspondence in the past fortnight from the Fire Brigade union expressing "deep concerns" about the service.

Mr McKinney also hit out at the decision to remove the NIFRS from its protected status as a frontline serive.

"Without being too alarmist this is a service that could affect the safety of our population," he said.

"I do not understand the rationale for the health minister removing the Fire Service as an emergency blue light service. The ambulance service and doctors are protected - they both attend the scene of an accident as do firefighters.

"They say a risk assessment will take place but the cuts have happened before that assessment - while they have literally removed its frontline status."

The figures emerged in response to an Assembly question from the Ulster Unionist Sam Gardiner.

Former health minister Jim Wells said that new Emergency Response Standards were being drawn up for the fire service, which will go out to public consultation in coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Alliance councillor Geraldine Rice, who sits on the NIFRS Board, said a "root-and-branch" review was being carried out to negate the impact of service cuts.

"Part of this will include recruitment and how the service is run," she said.