The fire service is at the frontline of the climate crisis – yet with 11,500 frontline staff cut we are simply not equipped for it, says the Fire Brigades Union’s Tim Green
The fire service is at the frontline of the climate crisis – yet with 11,500 frontline staff cut we are simply not equipped for it
We were lucky in my fire service that no firefighters were seriously hurt, but some had to be treated for heat-related injuries. In other fire services, several of our brothers and sisters were injured while attending wildfires and other incidents caused by the scorching temperatures. Some even required hospitalisation.
This very same government has showered us with praise for our response to this week’s emergencies, but praise does not ease how burnt-out we are. Praise does not guarantee public safety. This week must be a wake-up call for the government. Delaying investment in the fire service is like waiting for rain to put out a wildfire. It is ineffective and dangerous. They cannot wait until another climate catastrophe before funding the frontline.