Welcome to Kent's Fire Brigades Union site
This site is provided to inform and update the Firefighters of Kent and the public they serve.
Kent FBU - Press Release
FIRE BRIGADES UNION EXPRESS CONCERN OVER AUTHORITY’S MISLEADING PLAN REGARDING HEIGHT VEHICLES
Kent fire crews have expressed concern over fire service plans to provide height vehicle cover to anywhere in Kent in a 30 minute benchmark standard. They say the content of the plan is misleading to members of the public, who are expected to respond by the 18th January 2008.
The plan states that: “Height vehicles are used primarily for fire-fighting and special services, and are very rarely for rescues. No such rescues were made from fires in the three year period analysed in the review.”
This is untrue say Kent fire crews. A number of rescues have been made over the last few years most notably an incident at Meridian Court at Maidstone where two rescues were carried out.
While supporting the introduction of a minimum attendance time for Height Vehicles the FBU believe that this is not achievable with only 5 under the current System of crewing where height vehicles share a crew with other front line appliances. When these other appliances are in use the Height Vehicles are unavailable. This has led to incidents where Height Vehicles have taken over an hour to get to incidents.
One of the primary uses of a HV is to fight a fire externally (as recognised within the plan) which would remove the need to commit our firefighters to a dangerous situation; in order to achieve this HVs have to be readily available. Kent FBU strongly urges members of the public and all stakeholders to take part in the consultation, and oppose this dangerous proposal.
John Saynor Union Vice Chair for Kent said: “The changes made back in 2004 are not working, and the proposed changes will only make things worse.”
Harry Sawyer FBU Secretary for Kent said: “We agree that a HV should be available to any part of Kent for any purpose – whether that is for rescues or any other reason – within a maximum of 30 minutes. But under these misleading plans the proposal would be unachievable unless the HVs are crewed 24/7. KFRS has understated the usage and importance of these frontline vehicles.”
***ENDS***
Local contact:
John Saynor 07917 368259
Harry Sawyer 07779 659191
Ian Young 07900 498105
Regional contact:
Mark Simmons 07968 861021
Help save our Control Room
Please take a minute to follow this link and sign the petition against Regional Controls. (don’t forget to activate the reply message they sent back to you).
Cuts coming to Kent
Loss of 1 fire appliance and a Turntable Ladder from Folkestone
Loss of a Turntable Ladder from Thameside.
Loss of a Turntable Ladder from Maidstone being relocated to Ashford.
Loss of 14 experienced Fire Safety inspectors and 7 support staff.
Loss of 9 Fire Safety offices.
Loss of up to 19 level 2 Officers from operational duties
A full response to these cuts will be published by the FBU shortly
Responding to KFRS IRMP
The questionaire provided by KFRS is very subjective in key areas.
So we advise making full use of the further comments sections to express disatisfaction and concerns to cuts in front line services.
The FBU will be responding in full to this IRMP and will be publishing a copy on this website.
We encourage you and your friends and family to participate in the consultation and have your say as this is the only way we will convince this authority to retract some of their proposals.
Strike threat on loss of ill health Pensions
Resolution passed by South East Regional Committee - In the event of one of our members being considered for redeployment for ill health reasons, and a suitable vacancy is not available, then that member is ill health retired. If a member is denied an ill health pension due to the absence of a suitable post, and is dismissed on the grounds of capability, then the Brigade Committee will immediately register a Trade Dispute with the intention to ballot for Industrial Action.
Report from Brigade Committee Meeting held 1st November 2007.
Follow link to get the minutes.
Lobby Your MP over changes to our Pension Scheme
This link will use your postcode to locate your MP, then send them a prepared letter protesting the attack on your Pension.
It takes 30seconds and will help us to fight these changes.
ODPM business plan for Control leaked.
The leaked report shows the Regionalisation of controls has a high risk of failier.