The local Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said recently confirmed investment into Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is positive, but response times have increased by over 10% in 5 years due to insufficient government funding.
Average times for a fire engine to reach a critical incident across the Isle of Wight and Hampshire have increased by nearly 60 seconds in under 5 years, with response times now standing at 9 minutes and 49 seconds.
This is over a full 3 minutes slower than in the mid-90s.
The union is now calling for more central government funding to improve local resilience against wildfires and to improve response times.
It comes after HIWFRS confirmed an investment in frontline operations last week.
Chris Wycherley, FBU Executive Council member for the Southern Region, has said:
“We credit Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority for recruiting new firefighter and officer posts, alongside investment in specialist capabilities.
“But in the context of the Conservative led government gutting the fire and rescue service between 2010 and 2018 by cutting 12,000 firefighters nationally, these local improvements are a drop in the ocean.
Article continues below this advertisement “Central government funding for our local FRS is vital if we are to prepare adequately for future wildfires and to increase our ability as firefighters to respond promptly to emergencies.
“We want to keep the public safe, but you cannot do that without investing in firefighters and firefighting resources.”
