LIVES and property in Southampton will be put at risk by proposed changes to fire stations, the city council’s leader fears.

Civic chief Simon Letts said he would oppose plans by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to cut the number of overnight firefighters at one of Southampton’s fire stations in half.

Due to funding cuts the fire service needs to save £12.2million over the next four years.

The review would see 215 firefighting posts lost across the county but no stations would close.

On Monday night people can quiz fire chiefs at St Denys Church Centre, in Dundee Road, from 6.30pm to 9pm when they present their proposals to the public as part of a three-month consultation.

Cllr Letts said: “We’re not happy with what we’ve heard. There’s a significant risk to Southampton people and property by what’s being suggested.”

Fire chiefs also want to reduce the number of traditional fire engines at Hightown from two to one with a second, smaller sized vehicle replacing the second.

Cllr Letts feared what would happen if the fire engine needed to be deployed elsewhere in the county.

“If that fire engine goes to St Mary’s that leaves the whole of the east [of Southampton] without night-time cover,” he said.

Cllr Letts, who hopes to be at the meeting, said a motion will be put forward at the next full council meeting on November 18.

“If we can get [the number of overnight firefighters at Hightown] moved back up to whatever’s required for two engines then we will be happy. Otherwise it's too risky for Southampton", Cllr Letts (pictured below) said.

Daily Echo:

Deputy chief officer of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Neil Odin, who drew up the proposals, said they would allow “a more relevant and efficient fire and rescue service”.

He added that the smaller vans would have greater capacity allowing them to deal with a number of different scenarios.

“There’s quite a lot of people who argue ‘would you want a van to save your life?’ he said. “That’s a fairly emotive issue. It’s still a fire engine, it can carry just as many fire fighters, it has increased capacity for dealing with situations.”

He added nothing was set in stone and urged people to attend Monday night’s meeting.

“We will adapt [the review] following what we have heard. We have had some useful points of concern raised. But our firefighters have been engaged in this work for over two years. That’s why we’ve got to this stage.

“You’re going to hear a minority of voices who are concerned about change.”

He added: “I can’t keep it all the same. The situation has changed, risk is changing.”

The proposals were approved in September by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority, allowing a formal consultation, which run now until Friday December 4.

The proposals and the questionnaire can be found at hantsfire.gov.uk/a-safer-hampshire.

FIRE FIGHTERS are classed as immediate (on site in the event of a fire) or on-call (also known as retained, based at home but able to respond within five minutes). There will be three different types of vehicle available to the new Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service fleet. Traditional fire engines weigh 18 tonnes and can carry up to six fire fighters.

Some traditional fire engines replaced with an intermediate vehicle which can transport two to five fire fighters. The number of fire fighters on board will depend upon the severity of the incident. They will have greater water carrying capacity, larger ladders and additional rescue equipment (including medical equipment). Others will be replaced with a smaller first response vehicle, which can carry two to four fighters. They will be equipped to respond to a range of incident from small rubbish fires to larger incidents, such as fires in building.

Southampton At Redbridge fire station the 10 immediate fire fighters fire station will remain unchanged as will the one traditional fire engine.

At St Mary’s there will be no on-call fire fighters either day or night. Two of their three traditional engines will be replaced with one intermediate vehicle and one first response vehicle.

In Hightown the number of immediate fire fighters will be increase from 12 to 14 during the day, but reduced from 12 to seven at night. The station will gain a second intermediate vehicle.

  • Eastleigh At Eastleigh the station’s on-call capability is to be reduced by a third, from 19.75 fire fighters to 13 both day and night. The number of immediate fire fighters will increase from seven to nine. The station will see two of its three traditional engines replaced with one first response vehicle.
  • Winchester At Winchester there are two options available. Option one sees the number of immediate fire fighters reduced by half from 28 during the day, with zero immediate fire fighters overnight, while the number of on-call fire fighters increases from 12 to 14 both day and night. The average first response time is expected to increase by four and a half minutes. Option two sees the number of immediate fire fighters reduced by half from 28 during the day, with two immediate fire fighters overnight. Meanwhile the number of on-call fire fighters reduces from 12 to 10 both day and night. The average response time will increase by 20 seconds. Both options one and two see of one of the traditional engines replaced with a first response vehicle.
  • Fareham Fareham fire station will largely see the number of on-call fire fighters increase from 12 to 13 and the size of the second of their traditional engines replaced with a first response vehicle.
  • Gosport There are proposed two options for Gosport fire station. Option one sees no overnight immediate fire fighters but the number of on-call fire fighters both day and night increase from 13 to 18. The average response time at night is expected to increase from 5 mins 36 secs to 9 mins 45 secs. Option two sees the number of fire fighters on-call both day and night reduce from 13 to 10 while the there will be two immediate overnight fire fighters. The average response time is expected to reduce by 21 seconds. Both options one and two see one of the traditional engines replaced with a first response vehicle and an intermediate vehicle.
  • Romsey, NewMilton, and Lymington These stations will see the number of on call fire fighters reduced from 20 to 14 both day and night. The second of their traditional engines will be replaced with a first response vehicle.
  • Ringwood The number of on-call fire fighters in Ringwood is reduced from 20 to 13 and the number of their traditional engines cut in half from two to one Fordingbridge Fordingbridge sees the number of on-call fire fighters reduced from 15 to 10.
  • Lyndhurst At Lyndhurst the number of on-call fire fighters is reduced from 15 to 13.
  • Botley, Stockbridge, Sutton Scotney, Portchester, Droxford, Brockenhurst, Beaulieu The number of fighters will be reduced by a third, from 12 to eight, and the traditional engine replaced with a first response vehicle.
  • Wickham, Alresford, Bishops Waltham, Hythe, Totton and Burley At Wickham, Alresford, Bishops Waltham, Hythe, Totton and Burley the number of on-call fire fighters is reduced from 12 to 10. There are no immediate fire fighters. The traditional engine at each of those stations will be replaced with a first response vehicle.