Alex Easton MLA has expressed shock and deep concern at the vacancy levels for fire crew vacancy across Ards and North Down.
Speaking today Alex Easton MLA said:
“I am deeply alarmed at the level of vacancy across the Ards and North Down areas especially Holywood with 14 vacancy alone. This is deeply worrying and I have ask the question what are the Fire Service doing to get this resolved. I am concerned the pressure this is putting on current fire crews and in deeded alarmed especially that Holywood has been allowed to have its numbers drop so low without recruitment. The Fire crews we currently have are an amazing but I am worried they are not getting the funding and new staff they require and I would be concerned if a major fire happens that needs huge resources put together then those fire crews will be left short-staffed. I urge the Department of Health to ensure that their is an immediate recruitment drive especially for the Holywood Station and that our fire crews are treated and given all the resources they need and to do this in a swift and timely manor, our fire crews are amazing so lets not let them down.”
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