Coronavirus: Firefighters ‘will be less able to respond to emergencies’ as nearly 3,000 self-isolate

Brigades ‘will be put on a dangerous knife-edge’ unless government rolls out testing for crews, says union

Thousands of firefighters across the country are in self-isolation, leaving brigades’ ability to react to emergencies “on a knife-edge”, a union has warned.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) warned it would be “increasingly difficult” for crews to respond to calls unless the government begins testing frontline staff for coronavirus.

Nearly 3,000 fire and rescue staff are in self-isolation and unable to work. Almost 2,600 of those are firefighters or control room employees, about 5.4 per cent of whom are currently off duty.

The FBU said it was “inevitable” this would “impact on brigades’ ability to provide fire cover and respond to other emergencies”.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “The Westminster government is playing with fire by not testing firefighters and control room staff for coronavirus. Currently, crews are maintaining services, but this will become increasingly difficult as the virus spreads.

“There are already thousands of firefighters and control staff in self-isolation, only a fraction of which will have the disease. If we aren’t able to find out exactly who is infected, and more staff isolate unnecessarily, services will be put on a dangerous knife-edge.”

In London, 472 firefighters and control staff – nearly 10 per cent of the workforce – are in self-isolation, according to the FBU. The capital’s rate of absence is second only to Bedfordshire, where 12.2 per cent have been forced off work.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said it had “contingency plans in place” and was “confident that we can maintain a good level of service to London despite the challenges Covid-19 may present”.

In Northern Ireland, 7.5 per cent of brigade staff and 6.5 per cent of firefighters and control workers are currently quarantined.

A total of 2,997 brigade employees – 2,591 of those firefighters or control room staff – across the UK are in self-isolation, according to figures published by the FBU.

The union said firefighters were at increased risk of contracting Covid-19 as they came into contact with the public during emergency calls and their coronavirus support work.

Firefighters have been drafted in to drive ambulances, assist paramedics, deliver food and medicine to vulnerable people, and help police to retrieve dead bodies during the crisis.

Last week it was also agreed they would fit face masks for NHS workers and deliver personal protective equipment and medical supplies to clinical staff.

Some firefighters have been redeployed in to help the NHS and police during the coronavirus pandemic (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Wrack acknowledged that testing medics for coronavirus “has to to be a priority” but said “the very safety of the public relies on” other emergency services also continuing to function.

He added: “There needs to be a clear and deliverable testing strategy for all workers required to continue at work.

“The government failed to secure test kits in sufficient numbers early in the pandemic and now frontline services are paying the price.”

The Scottish government has begun limited testing of firefighters and control staff, some 5 per cent of whom are in self-isolation in Scotland.

Fifty employees of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who showed coronavirus symptoms have also been tested.

But the FBU said James Brokenshire, minister of state for security, had “made no commitment” to testing fire and rescue personnel in isolation in England, where 2,300 staff are self-isolating.

A government spokesperson said: “Firefighters and our frontline emergency services are doing incredible work responding to the coronavirus outbreak, and are leading community efforts to support the most vulnerable.

“We are prioritising the testing of the most acutely ill and vulnerable patients in hospitals and those on the frontline to help them get back to work as soon as possible to support our NHS.

“We are working very closely with fire chiefs to ensure they have the resources and support they need to carry out their vital roles and to keep people safe.”

The government has faced prolonged criticism over its failure to step up coronavirus testing for NHS staff and care home workers.

Boris Johnson had initially promised the government would carry out 250,000 tests daily, before health secretary Matt Hancock downgraded that target to 100,000 a day by the end of April. Only 19,000 tests were being conducted daily as of Friday.