Covid has exposed the folly of austerity - there is another way

Fifteen years ago, more than 200 firefighters were deployed to respond to a terrorist attack in London. Firefighters used boards, blankets, sheets and scraps of metal to rescue the dying and injured. It was a heroic, well-coordinated response and firefighters were praised by the coroner. But, after a decade of austerity, our ability to respond on this scale is in doubt. With 12,000 fewer frontline firefighters, it is little wonder why.

The Covid-19 pandemic has laid bare these vulnerabilities. Coronavirus has also been a heart-wrenching experience for the firefighters moving dead bodies, assisting ambulance teams, and helping to stem the tide of infection in care homes.

Sadly, whilst firefighters joined this national effort, more cuts to their services continued to be drawn up. Surrey, East Sussex and London are just the latest battlegrounds where firefighters are trying to defend their service from the politics of austerity.

The truth is that, despite what politicians might have up their sleeves, the last seven months have taught us the value of public services and the danger of being left hung out to dry when a crisis hits. The Covid-19 crisis has exposed successive government’s total lack of planning for the pandemic (despite its occurrence being top of the national risk register). This has been compounded by the disastrous role of austerity in undermining resilience in the fire and rescue service. This is unacceptable and our union – as it always has – will fight against any moves to undermine resilience further.

The fire and rescue service response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been managed uniquely through the UK-wide tripartite agreement between the FBU, fire service national employers and chief fire officers. Throughout firefighters have continued to provide a 24/7 emergency service, responding to all fires, road traffic accidents, flooding and wildfires.

Although few figures have been published on this activity over the last three months, in Northern Ireland firefighters dealt with nearly 10% more incidents during the pandemic than for the same time last year. The fire and rescue service really is an irreplaceable all hazards service.

The pandemic has seen multiple failures presided over by this government: failure to compile any statistics on the number of workers who have died; the failure to oblige companies to implement a regime of PPE and testing; the failure to be clear on health and safety compensation for deaths. The ensuing and totally avoidable second wave of infections is their responsibility and theirs alone.

Furthermore, the government are not sufficiently preparing for the after-effects of the pandemic. Local authorities have been pleading for help from government amidst mounting deficits that total £7.4bn. But their cries go unheard and sooner or later the worry is that cuts at a local level will follow.

The Covid-19 crisis has laid bare the folly of austerity and the abject failure of planning by successive governments. For our fire and rescue service, years and years of cuts leave us without the resources and personnel we really need.

But minor policy tweaks are not enough. After a decade of decline and decay, fire services need sustained investment. Each day without addressing these glaring issues risks another disaster.