Chloe speaks up for firefighters
Chloe Smith this week met Mike McCarthy, acting Chief Fire Officer, and Cllr Harry Humphrey of the Norfolk Fire Authority, to discuss the service's Safety Plan for 2011-14.
Amongst various other impacts across the county, the consultation document sets out the planned provision from the future Carrow fire station in Norwich, where one fewer full time pump will be situated than is currently the case at Bethel St station.
Chloe comments:
"I particularly wanted to be able to put questions that had been raised with me by firefighters. Everyone in the Fire and Rescue Service from the boss downwards faces tough choices throughout their jobs, including about how best to allocate scarce public funds. However, without a doubt the worst to imagine are those decisions that firefighters have to take on the spot. They simply must be equipped adequately and safely to do their job of response, protection and prevention. Firefighters naturally want to see the best protection for the public, but also need it themselves when they go into a dangerous situation.
"I would like to see resources continuing to go into training for firefighters, as well as into the teaching of prevention around the community. Norwich has different needs to the rural county and I want to see the service continue to serve the city adequately and safely.
"I also would like to see the service be flexible as it conducts its planning in later years. If it should turn out that this year's planning wasn't right, then I hope we will be in a position to change the resources again in the future."