Firefighters from across the Isle of Wight snubbed a planned exercise this weekend by booking themselves as unavailable in an apparent show of disgruntlement over recent and ongoing changes to the fire service locally.
Only 2 out of 13 fire appliances – Newport’s wholetime and Ryde’s day crewed – were available prior to the exercise yesterday morning (Saturday) as retained crews across the Island booked themselves as unavailable, or were unavailable as a result of being under crewed.
The plan of ‘Exercise Apollo’ was for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service appliances to standby at stations on the Island whilst the local retained crews attended the road traffic collision scenario. Rather embarrassingly for senior management, the exercise on the outskirts of East Cowes was attended by just 1 wholetime pump from Newport and 1 mainland pump from Waterlooville – which appears to have initially been sent to the Isle of Wight for standby duties.
As previously reported by Island Echo, 7 firefighters on temporary contracts have been told that they will no longer be required in their current role as of 31st December. Furthermore, up to 16 firefighters have been taken off the run after failing a new, stringent fitness test.
There are also a number of other changes taking place over the coming months which have left firefighters fearful. Moral is now at a real low.
One anonymous source has also said of yesterday’s exercise:
“They didn’t consult with us. They presumed that we would give up our weekend for an exercise – an emergency yes, but not an exercise, especially without asking”.
As the mainland pumps were standing by, it was safe for the Island’s retained firefighters to go ‘off the run’ – a decision they of course wouldn’t have made if appropriate fire cover wasn’t in place.
It is understood that the exercise was originally going to represent a chemical incident at the waterworks in Sandown, but instead a hazmat situation was played out as part of an RTC outside the CECAMM building on Whippingham Road.
Even when it is business as usual on the Isle of Wight there are times when just 4 fire engines (or less) are available to respond to an emegency, as revealed by Island Echo.
