STRIKE action has been averted after a formal agreement was reached in the dispute over fire service crewing levels.
Firefighters reacted angrily when Lancashire Fire Authority decided last year to cut the number of people sent out on each engine from five to four at six Lancashire stations including Hyndburn Community Fire Station.
The Fire Brigade Union's Lancashire branch said the move would put the lives of residents and firefighters at risk and members were balloted on strike action.
After weeks of talks between the chief fire officer, Peter Holland, and FBU officials a formal agreement was reached to allow crews to staff fire engines with five people wherever possible, on a risk-based approach according to the need at the time.
Mr Holland said: "I am extremely pleased that we have reached such a positive conclusion. We have always maintained that we did not want firefighters to strike. The agreement will allow us to move forward in a way that benefits the service as a whole."
Lancashire FBU secretary Steve Harman, added: "Through-out the discussions we have tried our best to come to an agreement that suits both our members and the service. I am pleased that we have been able to do that and that industrial action has been averted. We believe that the agreement reached will not compromise the service we deliver to the public."
As part of the agreement the service will provide six-monthly updates to the FBU on the number of critical incidents attended and crewing levels on the engines attending those incidents.
Mr Holland said: "The application of flexible crewing arrangements will ensure that Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is able to meet the long-term requirements of preventing fires in our community, while providing an efficient, professional response to fires as and when they occur.
"We have a legal and moral responsibility to maintain safe systems of work for our staff and the FBU has confirmed that the agreement reached will not compromise the service we deliver to the public."
