| The City of York will benefit from the best distribution of fire engines across the entire city area |
The Fire Authority have unanimously agreed, barring one abstention, the proposal for the distribution of fire engines for the City of York.
This now means that there will be:
• 1 wholetime crewed* fire engine and a rescue boat located at the new fire station on Kent Street and a further rescue boat located on the river Ouse.
• 2 fire engines consisting of 1 wholetime crewed and one retained duty system crewed** and the aerial ladder platform located at Huntington
• 2 fire engines consisting of 1 wholetime crewed and one retained duty system crewed and the incident response unit located at Acomb
The Authority approved the above with the following conditions:
• A 12 month review be carried out following implementation of the proposed changes.
• Assurance was sought from Chief Fire Officer Nigel Hutchinson that these proposals were not being used as a vehicle for cuts in front line services.
• That a sufficient number of bays be built at Kent street to provide, flexibility to accommodate a 2nd fire engine if the review indicated that a further fire engine be located there.
• That in the short to medium term that the 2 rescue boats will comprise the water rescue unit and that in the event of a proposal to change this, a further report be submitted to the Authority.
Having received the decision officers will now work up an implementation plan.
Chief Fire Officer Nigel Hutchinson said “The changes will ensure the best distribution of fire engines across the entire City of York area. The overall number of fire engines will remain the same as at present but with a much improved level of service being delivered to 31,000 people who live in the North of the city.
“Whilst 3,500 people within the Clifford Street area will receive a slightly slower response for a first fire engine to arrive as a result of the station move this move is more than offset by a corresponding faster response to 45,000 residents in the South and East of the city.
“The historic buildings within the City of York will receive a comparable level of service to that which is currently provided.”