Decision to 'shut off' Sidmouth's second fire engine is 'extremely sad news'

Sidmouth Fire Station has called a decision to shut off its second fire engine during the day, 'extremely sad news'.

After being called to a serious incident in Willand on Friday a spokesperson for Sidmouth Fire Station has expressed the station's concerns about about a decision 'shut off' Sidmouth's second fire engine during the day, seven days a week.

The incident in Willand, a serious commercial fire, was attended by eight fire engines and the Sidmouth crew were given the job of removing paper records from inside the building to prevent the fire starting up again.

Afterwards a Sidmouth Fire Station spokesperson took to social media. The spokesperson said: "This was on a day that the fire authority voted to turn off numerous second appliances [fire engines] across Devon and Somerset.

"Sidmouth's second pump [fire engine] is one of those to be shut off during the day seven days a week.

"The pump will sit at the station but the service will not pay to crew it. This is extremely sad news for us, all we want to do is keep our community safe.

"We often need both of our appliances to respond to incidents now we will be waiting for the second appliance to come from another station.

"Rest assured that your firefighters will do their utmost to protect you in any emergency situation that you need us for."