FEARS have been raised by the public that proposed cuts to Yate fire station could lead to ‘fatal consequences’.

Information was displayed about the service’s integrated risk management plan (IRMP) – at a public drop-in session at Avon Fire and Rescue Service’s Yate fire station yesterday.

It showed proposed cutbacks to allow the service to meet a target of £5 million a year savings until 2020, following grant reductions by central government.

The main concern raised at the meeting was a change to firefighters’ shift patterns where instead of working overnight at the station they will be available on-call from home.

Yet figures from gov.uk show that last year that almost half of accidental fires in homes in England and Wales took place at night as people get ready to go to sleep.

In 2009 full-time overnight crews were introduced due to demands for efficient protection overnight following dramatic expansion of the area. Under the current Joint Spatial Plan the area of South Gloucestershire which the fire and rescue service covers continues to grow.

Many worry people’s safety is put at risk as the firefighter’s response time is lengthened by having to travel into the station before attending to an emergency. In all fire warnings it is noted that fires spread quickly making this is a critical life or death period where every second counts.

Yate mother and administrator, Lisa Millman, 32, said: “When called out it will take longer to come from home.

“My brother is a firefighter and he has expressed that delays have fatal consequences. He said for example in the winter especially when it is icy it takes far longer.

“It’s not a good thing - they are risking people’s lives.”

Yate town councillor Chris Willmore said: “The public don’t want services cut and it is crazy that the fire services are facing cuts. Having one person put at risk is one too many.”

Resident, John Charleton, 63, said: “Is economics worth more than people’s lives? It’s very sad that they are putting money saving before people’s lives.

He continued: “A friend of mine was a fireman, he was the driver, and it took him an extra 10 minutes to come in even though he lived close to the station.”

An IRMP document on display stated: “Continuing to deliver our services against a backdrop of funding cuts and national moves to fundamentally change how local public services are delivered represents the most significant challenge in Avon Fire Authority’s history.”

It continued: “In the case of projects where our services provided to the public may be affected or there are other reasons why residents, staff and partners may want to have their say, we will fully consult on our proposals and take their views into account when finalising our plans.”

Avon Fire and Rescue’s deputy chief Lorraine Houghton was available at the meeting to answer questions about the four-year plan - which is under public consultation until December 31.

She offers reassurances that it is not all about saving money, noting her positivity for “many of the plan’s broader strategies,” for example on flooding and terrorism - which she explains have been set out to reduce risk in the community.

She said: “The main concern has been the overnight cover". However, she explained that those who came to the drop-in to discuss the plans have left "better informed.”

A 30-year-old Yate ground worker said: “It’s a better idea to have them on-call than stood about at the station all night.”

Assistant chief fire officer Rob Davis explained that those on-call are all within four to five minutes of the station. To help justify reasons for the staffing cuts he points to graphs which indicate that there have been less incidents.

He describes possible reasons behind this reduction: “A lot of good work has been done to reduce fire risk. Improvements have been made to buildings, and there have been social changes.

“Education and communication about fire safety has played an important role in preventing fires.”

Staff also offer home fire safety visits to vulnerable members of the public which has contributed to the reduction.

A food technologist from Yate, Tammy Mahaarjan, 34, said: “I take fire safety precautions, but accidents can happen and I feel sad about the cuts.”

A firefighter at the station told the Gazette that following the recent proposals, 18 of their 28 full-time firefighters at the station have put in transfer requests.

A policeman from Yate, Dean Sobey, 29, said: “I think that they offer a good service and they have put more crime and fire prevention measures in place. But the cutbacks are going to happen and they can’t do anything about it.”

The Fire Brigade’s Union have talked about their concern for the Yate service, and promote their notion that supporters should: “save the fire and rescue service so that it can save you.”

Firefighters from the station will speak with residents on Saturday morning from 10.30am to 12.30pm in Yate Shopping Centre to encourage the public to sign a petition against the proposals.

To view the plans visit www.avonfire.gov.uk/all-areas/1906-fire-service-seeks-public-feedback-on-future-plans, and to complete a feedback form go to https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LKYYDRP.