A RECORD number of firefighters from the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) resigned in 2021-2022, new figures reveal.

It came after what the Fire Brigade Union described as "a decade of insultingly low pay increases".

Home Office figures confirmed 124 full-time and on-call firefighters left the DWFRS which covers the Salisbury and Wiltshire area. This is the highest number of resignations since records began.

In total, 4,630 support people and fire control staff resigned from their positions.

General secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, Matt Wrack said: “It is clear that low pay is forcing firefighters and control staff to leave a profession they care about so much.

"Over a decade of insultingly low pay increases has left many unable to pay for their and their families cost of living."

He said that no firefighters and control staff should have to use foodbanks or struggle to pay bills.

“That is reason enough to give a huge boost to firefighters and control staff pay. Nobody should have to struggle to pay the bills or have to visit food banks.”

At a select committee meeting in Parliament, he stated how the fire and rescue services were extremely stretched when it came to dealing with the effects of climate change.

He added: “The continued downward trend in overall firefighter numbers is due to firefighters leaving the service and their positions not being filled. 

“We cannot continue to have a situation where threadbare fire services are meant to keep our communities safe. Firefighters and control staff need to get the proper resources to do their jobs. Anything else lets firefighters and control staff down and lets the public down.”

Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Andy Cole said: “Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is predominantly served by on-call firefighters – in fact, nearly two-thirds of our operational workforce is on-call – and the most important thing for us is that sufficient hours of cover are provided to ensure a 24/7 response.”

“How many people it takes to provide that cover can vary significantly, depending on how much commitment individuals are able to offer.”

Numbers fell for the 15th successive year to 31,100 as of the end of March, meaning there are now 27 per cent fewer FTE firefighters across the country than there were in 2007.

An official response from the Home Office said it has “consistently given fire services the resources they need to keep people safe", including £2.5 billion in funding this year."