Kevin Wright Sep 26 near Llandyssul Dear Mr Lewis,I have listened to your statement today ref the Striking Firefighters.I heard you say that there are around 500 firefighters aged 60 still working today,Im sorry but I think this is just a case of using the word Firefighter to encompass all ranks. The roll of Firefighter changes dramatically once you get to the rank of watch manager and above, indeed it is in the name, it becomes a management roll primarily as apposed to physical firefighting, although most watch managers will be involved in someway with their crews. I would like to invite you to take a challenge that might help you to understand what UK Firefighters are striking for today, due to your obvious lack of understanding as regards the operational side of being a 21st century Firefighter.As I understand it you are a fit 42 year old whose hobby is running, I feel that this can only be of benefit in this particular challenge! I believe that you have a rented property in London and that as you stated in the expenses enquiry, you are actually saving the tax payer £8k per annum by renting out your other property. I dont actually live in London but would like to thank you for your efforts in this matter.I feel that I must also congratulate you on only claiming £21,500 accommodation allowance 2012 - 13 well done!Anyway now for the challenge. As you have accommodation in London I think it is only fair that we use that as your base.What I suggest is that from 8pm on any two consecutive nights of the week, your can choose its only fair. The following should take place. On the first night we will start of slowly so that you can get into the swing of things, we will knock you up every 30-45 mins. you will get dressed in full fire gear and we will take you to your nearest Fire Station and back again at our own expense. This will carry on until midnight when you can go to bed in the luxury of your own home. From midnight on we will again knock you up this time every hour/hour and a half. We will have two lengths of hose and a standpipe that you must connect to the nearest hydrant to your house, attach a branch charge the hose and then open the branch, shut down the supply, make up the hose and position it back outside your house ready for the next time we give you a call.This will finish on the stoke of 8am. (We wouldnt want you having to go into extra hours on your first shift) On your second nights challenge things are going to be a little tougher.Once again at 8pm you will be taken, at our own expense, to your nearest fire station where you will dress in full fire gear and take part in numerous hose and ladder drills using all ancillary equipment and all floors of the drill tower, this will take place for at least three hours after which you will be allowed to return home or use the stations facilities for a shower, change of gear and cup of tea.This will now be approx. midnight where you will be allowed to sit down to enjoy a several times preheated spaghetti bolognese, unfortunately on your second mouthful you will be rushed across London to your nearest station with a smoke chamber.Again in full fire gear you will be given a 40 pound breathing apparatus set to wear on your back and taken around a preheated simulated smoke filled chamber dragging fully charged hose up over, through and around obstacles where hopefully you will find a strategically placed dummy for you to simulate a rescue.After this you will be taken to wherever your spag boll is waiting for you and allowed to finish it. We think the time will now be around 3am. You will be allowed back into the comfort of your own bed but before 8am we will have gotten you up on at least another two occasions where you will have had to wear breathing apparatus again in drills involving the use of hose.As I have said at 42 and fit you should find this a doodle, but just remember you will have just done this for 24 hours. Unlike those striking Firefighters that could have been doing this since they were 18 years old. Also remember that you will only be carrying out simulated scenarios covered by H&S restrictions you wont actually have the skin peeled from your ears from the build up of heat, super heated gasses or super heated steam, or that feeling of horror that makes you sick to the stomach when your touch that child who has hidden under the bed and been overcome or burned beyond recognition, you wont have that smell of burned flesh that you can literally taste and that sticks in your mouth, nose and on fire gear and that you never ever forget!Unfortunately there wont be enough time for your to get involved with drills that simulate rescuing people from car accidents, trapped in machinery, chemical incidents which not only involves the use of breathing apparatus and fire gear but also full cover strength sapping chemical suits. I understand how never ever having experienced being a Firefighter leaves you in this position of ignorance but feel sure that this little challenge would at least give you a small insight into what is one of the proudest professions and whose members are totally dedicated and are taking this action as a last resort.I could go on but realise how busy you are at putting together your plans for a brighter future for the fire service.I would like to think that you would take up this challenge but guess that your free nights are probably when you have to collect your rent.YoursKJWRIGHT. LFB.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:13:07 +0000
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