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'Cuts could lead to deaths'
FIREFIGHTERS today warned that lives were being put at risk following cut backs in the manning of a 'vital' aerial ladder.
They revealed their concerns after the equipment was used in the rescue of a man who was threatening to throw himself off a first-floor window ledge in Willows Lane, Accrington.
Today Lancashire Fire and Rescue denied the cut was made as part of the government's modernisation remit but as a direct response to the service's actual need for the equipment.
Lancashire has five engine-mounted platform ladders, with two in East Lancashire.
But two weeks ago fire bosses decided to make the ladder covering Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley a reserve piece of equipment.
As a result, the two members of staff needed to operate the ladder, based at Blackburn, during any one shift were put into other departments.
If the two fire engines on duty from Blackburn are out tackling a blaze, there will be no staff available to take out the aerial ladder platform. If the ladder is needed, a fire engine from another station will have to be sent to pick up two of the firefighters. They would then be driven back to the station to collect the ladder. Alternatively, the ladder for Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale would have to be sent for.
The Lancashire Fire Brigades' Union today said the move left firefighters in a ridiculous situation and would put lives at risk.
Lancashire secretary Steve Harman pointed to the rescue of a 27-year-old in Willows Lane on Tuesday night.
The aerial ladder was sent to help and firefighter Colin Western caught the man, allowing police to pull him to safety.
But Mr Harman said that if Blackburn firefighters had been out tackling a blaze at the time, vital minutes could have been lost and the man could have caused himself serious injury.
He added: "Modernisation is being driven by the government, but it is not modernisation, it is cutting costs."
John Taylor, a spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue, said: "This decision has originated from a sensible look at actual use of the aerial ladder platform and a response to that, not the government."
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