New Fire Brigade attendance figures show impact on Camden even worse than feared
Just before The deadline for submissions in response to its consultation on fire brigade cuts, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority published figures for the attendance times of a third fire engine: previously they had only released data for the first two at any incident.
Andrew Dismore, Labour London Assembly member for Camden and Barnet, who has analysed the figures said:
“It is perhaps not surprising, that it has taken so long for LFEPA to publish these figures. They add to the growing strength of the case, against closure of Belsize and Clerkenwell Fire Stations.
In 2001/12, 879 incidents in Camden needed a 3rd (or more) appliance in attendance, representing 14.1% of the overall total of incidents attended. The consequences of the LSP 5 fire cuts plan will mean that for similar incidents in future, if the plan is adopted as it stands, on average, we will see an extra 55 seconds for the third pump to arrive, an increase in time of 12.3%. this is on top of the highest increase in attendance times in London for Camden as a whole of 45 seconds, with many wards now falling well outside the 6 minute target for first attendance.
It can be expected that at individual ward level for some local neighbourhoods the consequences will be even more striking, bearing in mind the particular Camden wards where we already know the consequence will be that the first and second attendances will stretch beyond the target attendance times. These wards will do considerably worse than the 45 second additional delay in attendance, which is in itself unacceptable.
Camden has a peculiar and unique mix of fire risk, which is reflected by the need for so many 3rd pump (or more) incidents. These risks include not just high rise residential properties and business premises and the density of residential occupation, but special risks like three major rail termini and teaching hospitals, as well as cultural centres like our museums and galleries of international reputation, universities and their halls of residence, and the highest number of listed buildings in the country.”
