LIVES could be lost because part-time firemen in East Lancashire are being ignored - and colleagues from further away are being sent to tackle fires.

Leaders of the Retained Firefighters Union have listed a series of examples from Padiham and Rawtenstall to back up the claims. And they say morale among retained crews is at rock bottom and people are leaving the service.

National General Secretary Don Bates, says his members in Lancashire are becoming increasing concerned that the nearest available fire engines are not being sent to emergencies.

He claimed in some cases, career firefighters have been sent considerable distances outside their own fire station's area, even though retained fire engines were available nearer to the site of the incident. Examples include:

A manned fire engine from Nelson actually driving past Padiham fire station on its way to an incident in Burnley after being alerted while it was out on the road. Padiham retained officers maintain they would have got to the incident quicker.

An engine from Bacup was sent to an incident 0.6 miles from Rawtenstall Fire Station, even though the Rawtenstall engine manned by retained firefighters was available and could have been at the incident within five minutes.

Other examples have been given affecting the Leyland and Chorley areas.

Mr Bates said: "We do not wish to see a tragedy happen due to incorrect mobilising procedures.''

Lancashire County Secretary Glenn Gelder, said morale among Lancashire's retained firefighters was very low and that men were leaving the service. He said they were also concerned at changes in the rostering system which meant that only seven members were on call rather than the first there taking out the appliance.

Lancashire's deputy fire chief Graham Thompson denied that there was any mobilising policy.

He said instances could have occurred when career-manned machines were used rather than mobilising retained firefighters, for any number of good, legitimate, operational reasons.

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