Cut-backs compromising safety?

The on-line newspaper 'this is Devon' reports:-

Government to cut funding for special fire alert sea teams

Funding to fight fires and tackle chemical spills off the coast of South Devon has been axed by the Government sparking warnings 'vital' at-sea emergency cover will end.
Whitehall officials have confirmed cash for specialist firefighting teams trained to deal with 999 maritime incidents has been slashed as part of a wide-ranging cost-cutting drive.
Fire chiefs have told MPs they expect crews will no longer be able to respond to emergencies aboard vessels, leaving significant areas of the UK coast without coverage.
Ministers have justified the funding cut by saying the teams have not been involved in any major incidents since being formed five years ago.
It comes at the same time as the Government plans to slash the number of coastguard stations and downgrade others. It is also proposed to scrap the provision of emergency tugs.
The raft of cutbacks is currently the subject of a parliamentary inquiry.
The Maritime Incident Response Group has teams drawn from 15 fire and rescue services including Cornwall, which covers the South West coastline.
They respond to incidents 'where there is risk to life or high environmental risk for which fire fighting, chemical hazard and/or rescue teams may be required'.
In written evidence to the Transport Select Committee, the Chief Fire Officers Association stated: "It is anticipated that individual MIRG FRSs will not be able to provide a response to these incidents if funding is withdrawn.
"On that basis there may be no provision for FRS deployment to vessels at sea within significant areas of the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Region."
Even if services decided to maintain provision, the association said there would be no 'integrated response' as currently exists.
In its submission, the group said: "The Fire Service provides a professional application to the role of firefighting at sea and has the pre-eminent capability to fulfil this role. This has been demonstrated at various incidents over the years."
It said of the response group: "The uniqueness of this project, the first of its kind in the world, culminated in the provision of an integrated, interagency national strategy for dealing with incidents in the maritime environment."
The association said: "This is a vital and much valued element of UK search and rescue providing an additional resource to UK maritime resilience."
An independent review was carried out into the work of the response group last year.
While it concluded there was no legal duty for the coastguard or rescue service to provide a response to fires onboard vessels 'at sea', it added: "The risk assessment has confirmed that a response is needed around most of the UK, to attend and contain vessel fires with the purpose of preventing loss of life."
It added that 'eliminating the provision is not considered an option' in the context of the identified risk.
Shipping minister Mike Penning has defended cutting cash to provide at sea fire cover.
He said: "Since the Maritime Incident Response Group teams began operating in 2006 they have not been involved in any significant incidents, which is why we announced during the Comprehensive Spending Review that we would be reviewing this funding stream."

IFEDA notes that in an era of cut-backs and budget restrictions, now more than ever (and irrespective of whether your propety is situated on land or at sea) it is the time to ensure that appropriate fire extinguishers are installed and maintained by a competent person, your fire risk assessment is up-to-date and fire alarms are functioning as required. IFEDA has third party accreditied members across the UK who can help - some also offering a marine facility.