Fire risk for five West Sussex towns and villages

A LACK of part-time firefighters in West Sussex is putting the county at risk, it has been claimed- and five towns and villages are particularly badly affected.

By The Newsroom

Published 13th Jan 2009, 11:39 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:13 BST

Figures have just been released showing that retained fire appliances throughout the county are unavailable for an average of almost one day in five.

The worst is Keymer, where the service was unavailable for more than 65 per cent of the time, followed by Bosham ( 31.67 per cent), Billingshurst ( 29.81 per cent), Arundel (25.67 per cent) and Turners Hill ( 18.94 per cent).

During May 2008, retained fire appliances were 'off the run' in the county for 17.77 per cent of the total hours available to them.

The most significant factor in the service being unavailable was crewing shortages.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service operates from 28 fire stations across the county, of which 19 are staffed entirely by retained firefighters. The other nine stations rely, in part, on retained firefighters.

For full story, see West Sussex Gazette January 14