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20
Jul 2023
Reduction in Harrogate fire engines to begin next year
The reduction in the number of fire engines based in Harrogate overnight is expected to take effect next year.
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe announced the move last year as part of her three-year fire service blueprint on how resources would be deployed in the county.
The reduction, which is part of a shift towards fire prevention, prompted widespread concerns about safety, particularly life-threatening delays at Starbeck level crossing if a second fire engine were required in an emergency.
Conservative Ms Metcalfe also agreed to reduce the number of overnight fire engines at Scarborough and to have on-call rather than full-time firefighters at Huntington, near York.
Harrogate fire station
Her draft fire and rescue annual report for 2022/23, which was discussed by a panel today, says North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is consulting with trade unions around the implementation of the changes to Huntington station.
The report adds this is expected to be finalised by the end of the year then 'Harrogate will form the second phase of implementation'.
Harrogate firefighters affected will be redeployed to other stations or roles, including fire prevention roles.
Read more:
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Harrogate and Scarborough will have two larger emergency rescue fire engines during daytime, when most fires occur. They currently have one of these and one smaller tactical response appliance. Her report says:
An ambulance waiting at Starbeck level crossing — there are fears this will happen more frequently to fire engines under the changes.
Councillor Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone on North Yorkshire Council, said the changes were putting people "at risk".
She added:
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