Fighting Fire With Fire

We all pay our car insurance, home insurance and even mobile phone insurance, hopeful that we will never have to make a claim.

The same thing applies to our National Insurance, even though we hope we will never need to call out the emergency services. But take that option away from us – more specifically, the option to call the fire brigade – and Londoners are up in arms.

But I say that we cannot blame our firefighters for thinking about striking.

In my opinion, the cuts that are being proposed to shut fire stations and reduce opening times are ridiculous. No one can determine when an accident will happen. It can be any time, day or night. So having fire stations closed during the evening is ludicrous in my book.

The first strike happened on October 23, leaving London manned by only 27 fire engines. The second took place on Monday. The third, which had been tabled for today –  Bonfire Night – was called off at the eleventh hour last night. But this might not be the end of the strikes.

This is the worst firefighters’ strike since the national stoppage occurred eight years ago. Back then the army was deployed to provide back-up help. So far this time, that hasn’t happened.

Why this issue hits home to me is because it also relates to my youngest brother George.

George has wanted to become a fireman since he was two years old, but I often thought this might be impossible because he wears glasses. After studying public services for the past year, he now knows this is no longer an obstacle, and George will get to live his dream.

A week or two ago, he received the brilliant news that when he finishes his course he’ll have a place with the fire brigade. Now, with news of the cuts, it looks like George will be placed on a waiting list along with many of his friends.

He – along with the rest of the force, I’m sure – has only ever wanted to save lives. But due to these preposterous cuts in an indispensable service it looks like he’ll have to wait a little longer.

It’s a worrying thought, not being able to rely on the reassurance of the fire brigade during Bonfire Night in London, but I feel we have to support our firefighters in their own fight for the service.

Image by Mark Hillary courtesy of Flickr