Latest news with #HIWFRS
BBC News
11 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Safety fears raised over Hampshire and Isle of Wight fire cuts
Proposed cuts of up to £1.6m to a fire and rescue service would "undermine safety" for both firefighters and the public, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) has proposed savings measures including reducing the number of fire engines and closing stations on the Isle of FBU has launched an online petition opposing the changes, with southern regional chairman Dave Hunt calling on the fire authority to "stop these cuts immediately".The service said it was facing "financial challenges" but would still respond to emergencies "as quickly and as effectively as we can". As part of the savings, less frequently used fire engines at four on-call stations - Romsey Waterlooville, Petersfield and Lymington - would be a new specialist rescue vehicle and fire vehicle would lead to a reduction of 20 staff at Cosham and Redbridge stations, although there will be no redundancies, HIWFRS month it unveiled plans to combine Yarmouth and Freshwater fire stations, which would mean two fire engines could operate in the west of the Isle of are also proposals to stop operational responses from Bembridge fire Isle of Wight plans are open to public consultation until the end of Cole, assistant chief fire officer, said in developing its savings proposals, the service had "carefully reviewed our community risk levels against our resources".He said: "The costs of delivering our services have outpaced the funding we receive. "Without an increase in government funding, fire and rescue services have no choice but to find ways to make savings, but we will always seek to do that in a way that ensures we can continue to reduce risk and respond to emergencies as quickly and as effectively as we can." 'Increase response times' The National Fire Chiefs Council recently criticised "prolonged disinvestment in fire and rescue services over many years".Many fire services also faced a shortfall in funding after the government failed to give them the same level of compensation for tax increases as the police, BBC research a meeting of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Authority, Mr Hunt said the service was already "losing resilience"."If implemented, these cuts will increase response times," he said."Ultimately we're undermining both public and firefighter safety - as firefighters, we need to know we have the right number of people when we turn up."He called for a "full and detailed review" of HIWFRS' current work and roles and said the service should "put safety first and stop these cuts".The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said fire and rescue Authorities have received almost £3bn in the last financial year."We understand the challenges that fire services are facing, and despite the inheritance this government has been left with, we are determined to deliver better public services through our Plan for Change," it added. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Firefighters called to blaze in flat above Southampton mosque
Firefighters have been tackling a blaze in a flat above a & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said it was called to the fire on Portswood Road in Southampton at 11:19 building, which houses the Bashir Ahmed Mosque, was evacuated after the blaze broke out on the third floor, it 13:30, HIWFRS said the incident was being scaled back but the road was likely to remain closed for several hours. The cause of the fire was unknown but fire investigation officers would be attending, the service & Isle of Wight Constabulary officers were also at the scene, with South Central Ambulance Service there as a fire service said the gas and electricity supply to the building had been isolated, and crews were checking for spread from the blaze. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
31-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Hampshire firefighting twins retire after 68 years of service
Identical twin brothers are retiring from the fire service with "incredible memories" after a combined 68 years of on-call and Paul Minall were presented with certificates by chief fire officer Neil Odin at Whitchurch Fire Station, in Hampshire, during drill night on who is a crew manager at the station, joined in May 1990, with his brother coming on board two years later, after initially failing to meet the height said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" the work and had witnessed "a great deal of change for the better over the years". Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said both brothers had also enjoyed long careers at nearby Portals Paper Mill alongside their firefighting on shift at the papermaking company, they would respond to neighbouring Overton Fire Station for even made newspaper headlines about 20 years ago, after being stopped by police for speeding down a hill on his bicycle while on his way to the fire station to respond to an incident, said Paul, a highlight he "recalls fondly" was when a local restaurant gave out meals to firefighters during a long restaurant initially mistook Paul for his identical twin "coming back for seconds" and denied him any said being an on-call firefighter "is a big part of your life", adding: "But I have thoroughly enjoyed it and have witnessed a great deal of change for the better over the years."The crew at Whitchurch have become a second family and got me through some tough times."Being in the fire service has been really interesting and I take away with me some incredible memories." Watch manager Rich Scarth described the twins as "two of the nicest men you could ever meet" and "valuable members" of the said: "On-call firefighters are required to balance their personal and work lives against their on-call responsibilities. "To provide that service, for that many years, shows the dedication and commitment Dave and Paul have for our area and the people that live here."Also departing the station is Dave's wife Tanya, who has cleaned the building since Scarth said the Minalls "will be missed by all, and will always be welcome to pop in for a cup of tea". You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
New fire station planned for East Cowes after old one demolished
Plans have been lodged for a new fire station on the Isle of Wight after the previous one was demolished due to structural Cowes has been without a fire station since May 2024 when it was forced to close due to safety for the site in York Avenue, lodged with Isle of Wight Council, also include a new fleet maintenance Cowes councillor Karl Love described the plans as a "victory for safety in the making". Mr Love said: "East Cowes simply cannot be without a fire and rescue station, given our strategic location on a peninsula and with heavy engineering, shipbuilding and an important Island transportation gateway. "We also have an active power station, a large residential population and marinas." Mr Love thanked the crew of East Cowes station for "staying strong, unified and loyal to their community"."It would have been so easy for them to walk away from the service and that would have made it so much harder to campaign to keep this station open," he said.A design and access statement prepared by Boyle and Summers on behalf of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said: "Maintaining an operational fire station in East Cowes is essential, as it provides critical fire coverage to the northeast of the Isle of Wight, an area with significant marine, industrial and heritage risks."The nearest alternative stations - Newport, Ryde and Cowes - are over 15 minutes away, exceeding HIWFRS's target response time of eight minutes."The statement said the station was demolished because it was "structurally unsafe, beyond economic repair, and contained asbestos", adding that the Fleet Maintenance Centre at Newport Fire Station had also "reached the end of its economic life". You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
