PLANS to stop full-time fire crews dedicated to high rise appliances have been scrapped - but concerns have been raised by members of the service over potential changes in the future.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) have commissioned two replacement 32-metre appliances, with a new 42-metre appliance set to follow later in 2018.

However, firefighters contacted the Daily Echo to voice their worries that as the service commits to a significant investment in appliances, a consultation had been launched on removing crews who operated the aerial ladder platforms (ALPs) full-time.

The Echo understands that the plan was to have crew members from pumps on-call to man the ALPs after around £2m was invested in new appliances.

A member of the service, who wished to remain anonymous, said the changes could put the lives of residents and firefighters at risk.

The service member told the Echo that the Fire Brigades Union had been in contact with (DWFRS) with concerns that any decision on the manning of appliances should go out for public consultation.

They said: "If what was proposed comes into force then there is genuine concerns from across the counties.

"A crew on the pump could get called out onto a job and if a subsequent call comes in that needs a high rise appliance there is no guarantee they will be released to go back to the station.

"This adds delays in itself and could be putting lives at risk.

"The consultation has been pushed back a year, but this problem is not going to resolve itself just by delaying it 12 months."

DWFRS confirmed that the two new replacement 32-metre appliances are due into service imminently to be based at Swindon and Westbourne fire stations once all training is complete.

Assistant chief fire officer Jim Mahoney said: “Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has four ALPs, stationed at Swindon, Salisbury, Weymouth and Westbourne.

"These ALPs, as with all of our vehicles, are subject to a replacement programme and, as such, we are procuring a number of new vehicles.

“It is right and proper that we review how we crew vehicles as part of any upgrade or replacement, and we have been considering alternative crewing options as a result. However, following this review and after consultation with our staff, we do not intend to change the way in which we crew ALPs as part of this process.

"In light of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and the understandable concerns of our communities – especially in Bournemouth and Poole, where we have a significant number of high rise buildings - we have also approved the procurement of a 42-metre ALP.

“This is due into service during 2018/19 and will be stationed at Westbourne; at that time, the new 32m appliance will be moved to Salisbury as a replacement for the ALP there, and the existing Salisbury appliance will be moved to Weymouth.”