Island Echo always welcome letters to the editor, which may, of course, not reflect the views of the publication and its staff.
Letter to the Editor – 15th August 2025
“Like many residents, I read this week’s inspection report into Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service with a mixture of frustration and fear.
“How can it be acceptable that only 67% of serious emergencies are responded to within 10 minutes? And that’s using the Island’s own 10-minute target, which is already worse than Hampshire’s 8 minutes. So we’re not only being judged by a lower standard, we’re still falling short. Nearly a third of the time, fire engines aren’t getting there in time — and those are the calls that matter most.
Article continues below this advertisement “We’ve seen your articles about only 3 appliances being available at one time. That’s not enough to properly protect the Isle of Wight — and now we know that the inspectorate saw the same thing themselves during their visit. That tells me this isn’t just bad luck or a rare event. It’s happening regularly.
“What worries me even more is the delay in getting help over from the mainland. Up to 3 hours, according to the report. That’s shocking. It makes you realise how cut off we are. If something big happens here, there’s not enough backup. Simple as that.
“I remember when we had our own fire service, with its own badge and its own leadership. People had a sense that it was local and it understood the Island. When they merged us into Hampshire, we were told it would make things better — that we’d benefit from more resources and improved resilience. But all we’ve seen since then are station closures, staff cuts and more pressure on the few who are left.
“East Cowes still doesn’t have a proper fire station, years after the old one was knocked down. Bembridge and Yarmouth are being shut for good because they can’t recruit, but it feels like that problem’s been ignored for ages. It’s not fair on those communities.
“And then there’s the software issue. A system that freezes at midnight and stops crews being mobilised for several minutes? How can that be allowed to carry on when lives are at stake?
Article continues below this advertisement “The service just seems to be lurching from one crisis to another. Staff morale sounds low, senior leadership isn’t trusted, and now the inspectorate has put it all in writing. Maybe now the people in charge will finally do something — but I’m not holding my breath.
“The Isle of Wight is being left behind. We’re paying council tax like everyone else. We’re being told things are “under review” or “in development”. But when you pick up the phone in an emergency, you want to know help is coming — and coming quickly. Right now, I’m not sure we can say that with confidence.
“This fire service, as it stands, is not fit for purpose — and we’re the ones paying the price”.
Former firefighter
Isle of Wight
it was fit for purpose until they allowed the diversity officers in and started acting all woke with rainbow trucks and getting all upset over being called firemen.
ditch the woke and go back to being the fire brigade it once was
And yet…Year an year the ‘Fire Service Precept’ goes up in leaps and bounds…
Good to know that we’re getting a top quality, efficient and value for money service!
Like most services on the island, 3rd class.
When we were flooded out in the last couple of weeks in Cowes I phoned the Fire Brigade for help to be told here is the Waterboard Number you had better contact them.
absolutely disgusting.
No offer of help or Sandbags or where to get them etc, so why bother… then every year with taking our money via the Council for a Public Service that doesn’t work full stop.
No wonder they will be disbanded or whatever happens to them…no sympathy.
Another badly run Government organisation, employees know they
are UNACCOUNTABLE, they come awake on paydays and when they
retire and receive their extortionate pensions.
Fire and rescue service, not flood restoration service. The clue is in the name. They don’t cat from trees either by the way.
They are good at playing darts and snooker at the
station though.
Lol
I can see both sides of this arguement, there should undoubtedly be a minimum staffing and appliance requirement for the island, on the flip side the fire service has been if you like a victim of its own success, fires requiring the service are down year on year and you cannot have in any economy groups of highly skilled and expensive firefighters sat around for their whole shift, sometimes days, polishing the engine or drinking tea. if there is to be a minimum requirement, then they may need to re invent themselves with other responsibilities.