LIVES will be put at risk under proposed fire service cuts which will lead to Okehampton’s fire cover being slashed during the day, the firefighters’ union and councillors have warned.

The town’s fire station could see one of its two fire engines, staffed by on-call crew, grounded during the day, although the two engines and crew would still be on-call at night.

The proposed cuts by Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service across the two counties are aimed at saving £8.4-million from its budget over the next three years.

As well as shutting eight fire stations altogether, the fire service is suggesting that many others lose a fire engine or see one grounded during daylight hours.

The savings will be used to fund six additional ‘roving appliances’ staffed by full-time firefighters to travel to wherever there is most need.

As well as the need to save money, the fire service says the proposals have been prompted by the difficulty in recruiting on-call [retained] crew in rural areas, the Okehampton area among them.

However, a furious Fire Brigades Union, representing firefighters, has vowed to fight the proposals tooth and nail, saying they would leave the fire service ‘cut to the bone’.

FBU Devon and Somerset brigade secretary James Leslie said: ‘Devon and Somerset firefighters are furious with these proposals.

‘The plans would undeniably compromise public safety across both counties.

‘Despite promises from senior management to protect front-line services, full-time fire cover and jobs have been slashed since the combination in 2007 which created DSFRS. Now the service appears to have given up on vital retained fire cover.

‘We demand that the fire authority rejects these proposals. The FBU will not tolerate these dangerous plans and we plan to mobilise against them.’

Okehampton crews were among the first on the scene at a blaze in a historic house in Meeth two weeks ago, after an apparent lightning strike set the thatch on fire.

For the full story, pick up today’s edition of the Okehampton Times.