Brigade's boats taken off the water

6:46pm Friday 8th August 2008

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FIRE brigade rescue boats had to be taken off the water for a week following concerns about safety equipment.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s five boats were given the go-ahead to go waterborne again yesterday following risk assessments.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) raised concerns about equipment on board the boats and a lack of risk assessment procedures more than two months ago, and following a meeting between Pete Hope, local FBU chairman, and brigade managers the service was stopped last weekend.

Overdue risk assessments and checks on personal protective equipment were then performed.

Mr Hope said: “The FBU will not see firefighters’ safety being compromised.

“Since the fire service does not have a legal responsibility to provide equipment and resources for floods and water related rescue, this cover seems to be provided in a piecemeal manner as it is not funded by the Government.”

Paul Hayden, chief fire officer, said the decision had nothing to do with the service not attending the duck race in Worcester last Saturday, which raised money for St Richard’s Hospice in Wildwood Drive, Worcester. He blamed instead a “breakdown in communication” between the brigade and the hospice.

Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) provided marshals for the duck race at the last minute.

The brigade has two boats in Worcester, one in Evesham and two in Hereford. Mr Hayden denied the FBU’s claims that all the boats in the fleet were taken out of service for a week.