FIREFIGHTERS were left ‘alarmed’ after finding fire engines missing from their stations in Dorset and Wiltshire.

Crews arrived for their shifts during the week of September 19 to find the appliances missing from Sturminster Newton, Wareham, Corsham, and Marlborough fire stations.

Plans were previously announced by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service in August that cuts would be made to fire engines and downgrade fire cover as part of a programme of cuts.

Poole fire station is also at risk of losing a full time crewed engine by April 2025 and Wimborne, Sherborne and Portland stations are scheduled to be reviewed in January 2025.

The Fire Brigades Union condemned these plans as putting firefighters and communities at risk.

Despite being aware of the plans, firefighters say that were given no official notice that fire appliances would be removed on that date.

During a meeting of the Fire Authority on October 1, union representatives raised concerns that the cuts had been made without consulting or listening to firefighters or the public.

A week after the removal of the fire engines, a fire was reported in a flat in Corsham.

Enough firefighters for two engine crews responded and arrived at the station but the removal of their second fire engines meant only one crew could be mobilised.

This meant a second fire engine had to travel from Chippenham, delaying the response.

The fire was successfully tackled, with one occupant being rescued, however, the union said that Chippenham is one of the stations facing downgrading meaning that fire cover at night is not guaranteed.

The Fire Brigades Union has said that disaster was “only avoided by luck”.

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary said: “Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is clearly trying to get away with cuts by stealth. Axing fire engines and downgrading firefighter cover will hollow out any last resilience. The public, and the workforce, deserve a say in their service.

“Fire service bosses must stop playing fast and loose with firefighter and public safety. The frontline is raising the alarm, and the fire authority must start listening.”

Val Hampshire, Executive Council member for the South West, said: “Firefighters were shocked to find fire engines had been removed from their fire stations.

"As we saw last week, firefighters are dangerously thin on the ground, with disaster only avoided by luck. Plans to slash fire cover will mean that there may be no back-up next time.

“To prevent future tragedies, the service must return the fire engines and scrap plans to downgrade the service further.”