BRIDGWATER firefighters were out in force in the town centre this weekend campaigning to stop Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) taking the third fire engine away from the Bridgwater station.

DSFRS is currently consulting on a number of options for its Safer Together programme until September 22.

Possible changes include closing eight stations, including Porlock in West Somerset; removing third fire engines from Taunton, Bridgwater, Yeovil and Torquay; downgrading three whole-time stations in Devon, with on-call crews covering nights; removing 14 fire engines service-wide; and employing six roaming appliances rather than basing them at stations.

The service says the changes would involve “low risk/activity stations and engines”.

But Bob Wilkins, watch manager at the Bridgwater Station, says removing the third appliance at Bridgwater would be detrimental to public safety.

“Bridgwater fire station covers two motorway junctions and the third appliance acts as cover,” Mr Wilkins said.

“When there were 15 pumps tackling the fire at New Look, the third appliance was the only one left covering a huge area.

“We do not feel the service is being forward thinking with these proposals - Bridgwater is a growing town in terms of population and industry and we have Europe’s largest construction site Hinkley C close by.

“Even if they do want to take one of the larger appliances, they should at least replace it with a rapid intervention vehicle to give us another option.

“We hope as many people as possible will the sign our petition and fill in the consultation on dsfire.gov.uk.”

There will be a drop-in event and a chance to fill in the consultation at Bridgwater Library today (Tuesday, August 27) between noon and 4pm.

Cllr Leigh Redman said: “It would be concerning if the third appliance was removed and I would need to understand the impacts on risk.”

Assistant chief fire officer Pete Bond said: “The options that have gone out to public consultation include the removal of the third fire engine at Bridgwater.

“We have looked carefully at all of our resources across the service and have taken local factors such as response times and availability of fire engines into account when making these proposals.

“The third fire engine at Bridgwater is among a number of appliances that are under-used and the resources could be better used to protect life and property elsewhere, such as in our work to prevent fires from happening in the first place.

“Bridgwater will retain its existing two fire engines to provide an immediate response to incidents.

“We do have financial challenges but these proposals are not about saving money, they are about moving our resources to where the risk to life is greatest.”