Firefighters at risk of losing jobs in north Wales

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is hoping to improve emergency cover Corwen, Dolgellau and Porthmadog.

However, the move could come at a cost with a number of full-time firefighters at risk of losing their jobs in Rhyl, Deeside and Wrexham.

Controversial plans to remove a fire engine from Wrexham have also resurfaced, with a number of smaller stations also at risk of being closed.

A Fire and Rescue Authority meeting held on July 17, heard that in 2021 the service was asked to review how it responds to emergency calls.

In large parts of north Wales, emergency cover is provided by on-call firefighters, who are not full-time.

During the meeting, authority members were told there have been problems over the availability of on-call firefighters during the day.

Three options were put to members in an attempt to resolve the shortages, with a public consultation launched to gauge the public's view.

The first option is that full-time firefighters would be put on duty during the day in Corwen, Dolgellau and Porthmadog.

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The second option would include the above, but cut one of the three fire engines based in Wrexham, with 22 firefighter jobs also to be cut.

Third, would include the first two options, plus the closures of Abersoch, Beaumaris, Cerrigydrudion, Conwy and Llanberis fire stations.

This third option would result in a total loss of 36 full-time firefighters and 38 on-call firefighters.

All options include removing the night shift at Rhyl and Deeside fire stations, which would leave just on-call staff.

Deeside Fire Station. (Image: NQ staff)

Now the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority is encouraging people to get involved in its public consultation.

Chief Fire Officer Dawn Docx said: “Essentially, emergency cover means being able to provide an equitable service across our diverse communities – diverse in terms of location and geography, in terms of the types of incidents we respond to, and also in terms of the people we serve, no matter who you are.

“We aim to achieve this by managing our resources, our budget and our people as effectively as possible.

“Balancing this against the current challenges to providing our services is also key – especially when our part time or on-call firefighters are not as available as they have been traditionally, when the risks faced by our communities are changing, for example with climate change and when the financial challenges are greater than ever.

“And it’s not just about responding to incidents – preventing them from happening in the first place is far better for everyone involved. Our prevention and protection work is therefore equally as important to helping to keep you safe.”

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Councillor Dylan Rees, Chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “This consultation is important to everyone in North Wales and understanding your views is key.

“It asks for your opinion on what risks concern you most? What decision-making criteria is important to you? How do the options presented meet the needs of all our communities? Or you may have another suggestion about other ways of providing emergency cover in North Wales?

“The more people get involved, the better our prospects of achieving the right balance of services in what we provide. The more opinions we receive, the more we can be confident that the detailed action plans we develop will deliver exactly what the people of North Wales want.”

Responding to the proposals, Cerith Griffiths, FBU Executive Council member for Wales said: 

“Since 2010, one in five firefighter jobs have gone, at least 450 of them in Wales. Firefighters are already stretched close to breaking point working to keep our communities safe.

“After a decade of brutal cuts, and with extreme weather events becoming more common, we desperately need investment.

“But all three of the service’s proposals amount to more cuts. Our local authority shouldn’t be choosing between three different ways to put the public at risk.  

“Local FBU officials and members have already met and a campaign to defend jobs and public safety is underway. We expect widespread public and political support.”

The consultation, available on the fire service authority website, opens on July 21 and closes at midnight on September 22.