999 Eurorisk: 48 hours rule to wreck fire cover
LIVES in West Norfolk would be put in danger if a law change sees retained firefighters unable to continue their role, campaigners have warned.
The UK had opted out of European Union rules limiting a working week to a maximum of 48 hours – but that is set to change and retained fire crews would no longer be able to operate.
The European Parliament has voted to scrap the opt-out by 2012, it would then be illegal for retained firefighters who work full time to be called out.
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service relies on retained firefighters to provide emergency cover in more rural areas, with 35 of its 41 stations being manned entirely by retained crew who are on-call for up to 120 hours a week.
Every fire station in West Norfolk uses retained staff to some extent, including Lynn, and they play a vital role in keeping communities safe.
There are fears a change in the law would decimate the number of retained firefighters able to work, increasing response times in emergencies and making the retained service "unviable".
Tristan Ashby, secretary of the Norfolk Retained Fire Fighters' Union (RFU), said: "In these circumstances, I think it's justified to say loss of life is a distinct possibility."
South West Norfolk MP Christopher Fraser echoed the union's fears and said the move would have a huge impact on the fire service's ability to provide full emergency cover.
He said: "We rely on the valuable work of retained firefighters to provide us with emergency fire cover while maintaining full-time jobs in other occupations. I fear that if this decision is implemented, lives could be at risk.
"Retained firefighters will legally be prevented from committing hours to the fire service and the viability of the retained fire service will be under threat. I urge the Government to stand firm in the face of these plans and continue vital negotiations."
North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham said: "It could lead to real problems in terms of fire cover and that worries me enormously. These people need to be listened to."
Mr Ashby said however the retained service was reorganised, people's safety and finances would suffer.
He explained: "Retained firefighters by and large have a primary job which can take up 35 to 45 hours of their week without including retained work.
"If the individual opt-out is removed, it may mean people have to give up the job full stop or reduce the amount of cover they provide.
"If that happens, there are going to be even bigger gaps in the fire cover provided in Norfolk and across the country.
"It would take them longer to respond to calls, with an appliance from further away having to be called out. The public obviously won't be happy about that.
"Or the retained stations will have to be manned full-time. Again, people won't be happy because their council tax will go up."
The removal of the opt-out is designed to prevent British employees from being over-worked, but Mr Ashby said retained firefighters were community-spirited, choosing to work long hours.
"They don't do it for the money," he added.
A spokesman for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are watching developments around the working time directive closely and, while there hasn't yet been a decision, it is obviously something which has the potential to impact on our retained duty staff."
An on-line petition to save the opt-out has been started. Find out more at www.rfuonline.co.uk
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Cloudy
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