FIREFIGHTERS are weighing up strike action after a row broke out between the Fire Brigades' Union and Essex Fire and Rescue Service over controversial reform plans.

Union members said they are very concerned by many proposals, including the long-term cutting of 44 firefighters, the issue of manning specialist vehicles and the possibility of a fire helicopter.

Keith Flynn, a Basildon firefighter and chairman of the Essex union, said: “We would rather see this resolved than be in dispute, but if we are backed into a corner, the last resort will be to ballot.”

Ann Holland, vice-chairman of Essex Fire Authority, said job cuts were not planned and the reforms did not threaten service quality.

One of the main plans opposed by the union is a change in the manning of specialist high-reach ladder platforms and rescue tender units.

Currently, every ladder platform and rescue tender is served exclusively by specially-trained firefighters.

The union said the changes mean a single crew would man both vehicles, at stations which hold both units.

Mr Flynn said the plan risked delaying responses to emergencies needing one of the specialist vehicles, if the team was already answering another call in the area.

He said: “There will be times one machine is sat at a station unavailable and the incident will have to wait for another one to turn up.

“We always look at this worst-case scenario because we want to deliver the best and safest service.”

Mrs Holland said: “Around 70 per cent of the country’s services are already alternating their ladder facilities and have been for a while. The other fire services have not reported a problem with it. If there was a problem, they would get it in the neck from the public.”

The union also claims long-term plans to reduce firefighters will have a detrimental effect.

Tony Adams, a Grays firefighter and Essex union secretary, claimed it could compromise the service for members of the public.

He said: “There is a real danger frontline crews will be spread far too thinly across the county.

“We understand their concern about making efficiency savings, but the emergency response service must not be compromised by the drive to make savings.”

Mr Adams dismissed a study into the option of a fire service helicopter as an “absurd” waste when money-saving options in the other areas were being looked at.

Mrs Holland said the fire service would not propose anything that endangered residents or staff, but had to look at making savings and keep its eyes on new technology.

She said: “We wouldn’t propose anything that would put residents at risk. There are not going to be redundancies, we’re just not recruiting.

“The Government is going to make £200million savings for the fire service nationally, we have got to review how we’re working.”

She said the possibility of a fire service helicopter was only a study and could be a shared venture with the ambulance or police service.

The union said it plans to hold more talks with the fire service this week, but would recommend an industrial action ballot if no progress was made with the fire service or fire authority.

Fire chief says claims are "outrageous"

ESSEX’S chief fire officer, David Johnson, said he was “disappointed and frustrated” at the situation and said some of the claims made by the Fire Brigades’ Union were “outrageous”.

He stressed that no firefighter would lose their job, no fire stations would be closing, no appliances would be cut and no services would be badly affected by the proposed changes.

He said they were trying to make the most of taxpayers money by not wasting resources manning rescue tenders and aerial ladders separately.

“This is scaremongering and it is frustrating,” he said.

“We have to get this in context.

“Saying there are going to be job losses is absolutely rubbish – they are making it up. I don’t know where they have got some of their figures from.

“The union needs to realise we are in the midst of a recession. There’s no money in the High Street, unemployment is going through the roof but we are assuring our people there will be no job cuts, not many organisations can say that this year!”

He also criticised the FBU for not wanting to talk with service chiefs about the issue.

“We have an open door policy here but they simply refuse to come and talk to us. At this stage it is not clear what grounds they may be prepared to strike over.

“In my opinion, we have a 21st century fire service but with a 1970’s style union.

“Strike action would not be acceptable in any way, shape or form.”