The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has issued a stark warning that the fire service in the south west will face “serious challenges” unless the central government provides additional funding to recruit and retain more firefighters.
At a recent budget meeting for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, plans were set to increase council tax for the average Band D property by £5 annually starting in April. Despite this local increase, the FBU says it is not enough to meet the demands placed on fire services today.
Dave Roberts, FBU’s south west regional secretary and a firefighter with 33 years of experience, called on councillors from Devon, Somerset, Plymouth, and Torbay to pressure the government for more substantial financial support. Speaking before the budget discussion at the fire authority meeting in Clyst St George near Exeter, Roberts highlighted serious funding shortfalls threatening the service’s future.
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“Firefighters are highly skilled professionals dedicated to community safety,” Roberts stated. “Yet their pay and current pay structures fail to reflect their true value. Since 2003, a flat pay system has left firefighters on stagnant wages with little opportunity for progression. This outdated model must be replaced with one that properly rewards their skill and commitment.”
Roberts also pointed out disparities in pay, questioning why firefighters in Devon and Somerset are paid less than those in neighboring Avon, emphasizing the need for consistency across regions. The FBU advocates for fair wages for all firefighters, including retained and control staff, insisting that any pay increases must come from new money rather than cuts elsewhere in the service.
Currently engaged in pay negotiations with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the FBU expects a resolution by July. Roberts stressed that pay reform is vital, especially as firefighters confront growing risks from wildfires, flooding, unresolved building safety issues, and a broadening range of emergencies.
“The fire service is underfunded and undervalued,” Roberts warned. “We’re operating with 20% fewer firefighters than in 2010, with central government funding drastically reduced. In real terms, fire service pay has dropped by 12%. Other public sectors, like education and healthcare, benefit from structured pay progression, which firefighting lacks.”
He explained that firefighting requires extensive training and maintenance of life-saving skills, yet once qualified, opportunities for pay advancement are limited to promotional posts, which are scarce. This has led to low morale and mental health pressures, making recruitment and retention increasingly difficult.
“If we want to maintain a world-class emergency response, we must have enough firefighters and equipment, and ensure frontline staff are fairly valued and paid,” Roberts said. “Urgent investment from central government is essential. I urge you to use your influence to lobby for this.”
Councillor Frank Biederman, chair of the fire authority, echoed these concerns, acknowledging the long-standing neglect by successive governments. “It’s not a political priority,” Biederman said, “but when the fire service is under-resourced, the consequences can be disastrous. I’ve told ministers that neglecting the fire service might not earn votes, but it could certainly lose them when services fail.”