Background Information

Q and A

What kinds of emergencies are these Bulk Extinguishing Materials used at?

Does it tend to be that they are not needed until later on in an incident (so response times are not crucial)?

Would a definition of each of these types of vehicles be useful?

What are Bulk Extinguishing Centres?

The term Bulk Extinguishing Centres describes locations in London where specialist extinguishing equipment would be based, for example bulk foam units and bulk water carriers, which are specialist appliances used to extinguish large or complex fires.

Will additional funding be required for these new centres?

No, the centres will be located in buildings we already own / use, the fourth London Safety Plan proposals are to move these specialist vehicles from their current locations to the new centres as detailed.

What is alternate crewing?

Alternate crewing would mean that staff trained to operate different types of vehicle could be based at the same location and operate different vehicles as and when they are needed at incidents. Alternate crewing will be explored more fully in further plans, but if introduced the arrangements would mean that the centres being proposed could be staffed by a team of staff able to operate the different vehicles based there, rather than having unnecessary levels of staff that are not needed on a full time basis.

What is the difference between dual crewing and alternate crewing?

Dual crewing is a term that has been used by the Brigade, but has the same meaning as alternate crewing.

So you’ll reduce the number of staff you need, if you have one team to operate three different appliances?

The Authority has a responsibility to constantly review the levels of staff needed to provide a full fire and rescue service.  If the centres being proposed are agreed, then yes the Authority would need to look at staffing levels required and consider further plans which again would be subject to consultation, but any plans would ensure that levels of service are not compromised.

How many staff could be affected if the proposals were accepted, these centres established and alternate crewing introduced?

Are you going to close fire stations / reduce the number of appliances?

No.

Would crews with specialist training go out on a pump ladder?

The Brigade has for many years now worked to ensure firefighters are multi trained and given the specialist skills to use different equipment. While further plans would examine in detail how alternate crews would be managed, firefighters already use whatever equipment is required at an incident.

How would this affect the training of firefighters?

 Isn’t that also compromising on safety, how can a firefighter be a specialist for different equipment?

The Brigade has for many years now moved much more towards an operational workforce that are given the opportunity to complete specialist training in a number of areas and have for a long time now carried out a range of operational duties. It’s the way the fire service works, firefighters are specialists in a number of fire and rescue situations, and professional skills and experience are never compromised.