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Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service set to approve next steps to increase firefighters

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A report going to Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet next week (31 January) will discuss plans to approve the next steps to increase fire cover in line with risk and demand across the county. The preferred proposal would see an increase of 14 firefighters (including crew and watch managers) in the county.

The report includes a request to start a public consultation in March to ensure that it can hear the views and feedback of Gloucestershire communities, workforce and stakeholders on the proposal. As part of the steps to increase fire cover in line with risk and demand, they will also consult on potential changes to shift patterns.

The shift pattern changes from 9-hour-day and 15-hour-night shifts to 12-hour shifts could improve the ability to have the right people, in the right place to respond to emergencies and provide prevention and community safety as well as benefit the health and safety of firefighters.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) wants to ensure it keeps communities safe through reviewing its resources to meet its priorities outlined in its Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2022-2026.

Mark Preece, Chief Fire Officer, said: “We need to ensure that we continually assess how we best serve the communities of Gloucestershire. After reviewing the modelling and available data in accordance with our CRMP 2022-2026 priorities we are asking to consult on an increase of fire cover within the county.

“We want to ensure we have the right people, in the right place, at the right time to provide emergency response, community prevention and safety needs across the county.

“The proposals ask to consult with the public, our workforce and stakeholders to increase fire cover across the county, including options around shift patterns.”

Cllr Dave Norman, Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member with responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The proposal to consult is to ensure that not only does the fire and rescue service look at the data and the modelling for efficiencies, but that it importantly seeks the public’s, workforce and stakeholders’ views as part of the decision-making process.

“The proposals to consult on increasing fire cover and potential to change shift patterns is to ensure that we seek views on how the fire and rescue service continues to keep our communities safe.

“The proposed 12-week consultation will open at the start of March, to give everyone an opportunity to look at the proposal in detail and to tell us what they think.

“No decisions or changes to fire resources will be made until the consultation is concluded.” 

You can read the full cabinet report here.