Firefighters having to beg for stuff

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Am I being unreasonable in thinking that the firefighters working on the moors fires should be treated better. They are working flat out then have to tweet that they need basics like socks , hats , sunscreen n insect repellent. Poor buggers , what a shit show .

I went in 2 hrs ago and the fire fighter wrote me a list , he said they still need stuff . If there is enough it will be distributed to areas in the country also fighting moor fires

I’ve just put an order in

This is the link with the address in case anyone else needs it

www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/my-area/tameside/stalybridge/

Just read that Superdrug have been into Stalybridge fire station ( Hi I'm a local too ) so hopefully lots of sun cream and etc they needed has been supplied.

That's great , they will use loads as it so hot up there. It's good the shops are donating , the community spirit is high around Stalybridge and further afield.

That's disgusting. I grew up in Stalybridge, have fantastic memories of it, so thanks for address, I'm sending next day delivery parcel now.

I'm local too. They are constantly appealing for things, and the local community has been great. I'm really touched, reading this thread, to hear people from out of the area have sent donations too.

It's been organised by local people- the fire authority are not asking for donations nor saying they can't afford sunscreen.

The local fire station has asked on Facebook for things.

I agree with those saying it’s simply because it’s such an unusual situaton.

Lancashire fire and rescue put out an appeal for stuff and within 48 hours said they had enough.

When something like this happens locals want to help so it’s also good to direct that help in a useful way

I was watching the fire on Winter Hill from my garden when someone started a fire on the Nab!

Is it just me or is this getting a little out of hand?

The FBU are surely just seizing the moment to drive their own agenda.

I dont disbelieve that there may have been cuts in the fire service but hose are high level managerial decisions and nothing to do with rank and file fire fighters. Thei job is to do their job.

There have been cuts all round. In my own industry, i used to work for a company that turned in a £4 Billion operating profit every year and was the darling of the stock market banging out a 5% divi and more PA .

Cuts happen because managers like to big themselves up by nipping up budgets. Then when it all goes tits up, well they are usually at home quaffing Chardonnay with their partner and they are rarely if ever held responsible.

It is now part of our national psyche to turn a drama into a crisis.

Grenfell.. hundreds of tons of stuff was donated but the end result was that the vast majority of it was transported around the country to offload to charitable organizations outside the capital/recycled or landfilled

In a few weeks time Stalybridge fire station will probably not be able to open its doors for the huge mound of sunscreen,food and drinks donated by wellwishers.

I'm quite certain FFs are resourceful and will bring their lunch to work with them along with sufficient drinks. When their shift ends they will go home and repeat the next day.

This is Stalybridge,, not outer Mongolia,,

I'm quite certain FFs are resourceful and will bring their lunch to work with them along with sufficient drinks.

Trouble is when you are doing physical work for the whole of your shift then you need to eat and drink more than you would normally.

But the local fire station is not the fire authority. It is the FBU putting these requests on Facebook and it's likely that the narrative of needing the public to supply basics supports their narrative.

I'll find a link to the reserves held by the fire authority- Manchester had approx £40m in the bank in march 2017.

It's a long way down off the moor to replenish and get your lunch (Stalybridge is probably half an hour's drive to the moor). It's boiling hot at the moment, there's no shade where they are whatsoever and they're fighting a fire in warm clothes. The fire isn't likely to be out until there's a lot of rainfall. There are other fires starting up around the area, they've working their butts off. As well as the firefighters there are lots of voluntary mountain rescue people up there and farmers, rspb people etc. The donations ARE getting used up..

My Husband is a firefighter, has been home only twice since Friday for a few hours sleep and I mean 11pm then back out at 6am. The idiots that are setting these fires are putting the whole of the north at risk, because of the cuts over the years appliances and ff are being called in from all over leaving the cover very low else where. This government has cut all service providers, hit all the people who work in the caring professions and then make out they are giving them pay rises with ridiculous clauses attached. While they all vote for their own big fat pay rise for leading the country into a mess😤. Oh only came onto say they are so chuffed at the thoughtfulness of everybody he actually sent me a photo of the donations, I didn’t think he even knew how to send a photo🤣🤣🤣. So as someone involved a great big thank you.

Limpopobpngo
Another one of those I’ve had it hard so so should everyone else, whatever happened to humanity.
As for having an excess of donations they will be distributed resourcefully if not used.
Nobody is making you help some people are just kind and want to help others.

Wow. Just wow, Limpopo. Grenfell etc are a 'drama not a crisis' . And firefighters can manage on normal drinks from home in day after day of raging fire and extreme temperatures? I hope you have read Millionairesses post. Your your lack of empathy is disturbing for want of a better word. Its a normal first instinct to want to help, it's not normal to be more interested in measuring or defining what you want to label that situation as. Horrible.

There’s 150 firefighters on Winter Hill near Bolton, fighting a large moorland fire. They have asked for suncream, insect repellent, water non perishable foods. Today they have asked for a gazebo and chairs so they can have a rest in the shade on their breaks, they are working 17 hr days.

Thus was Saturday night on Winter Hill, I think it’s fair to say it’s a crisis, housing is not too far away

@bluemascara it's not fake news. My colleague took a donation up from work, there was loads there and they were very grateful.

I am not saying people shouldnt help, just that it needs to be proportionate.

If word gets out there will be pallets full of all sorts outside the FS.

In any case ,their employers aka Greater Manchester Fire And rescue Authority are ultimately and legally responsible for the H & S of their employees and to ensure they are suitably resourced. Perhaps someone should ask GMFRS for a comment ?

I don’t think this is a reflection of the fire services finances tbh. They’re not set up to be working continuous shifts so wouldn’t have a budget for food, drinks, socks etc and probably no way to purchase this sort of thing. They’re not begging are they? They’re not destitute.

If their managers are choosing not to purchase these things from Tesco and claim It back on expenses then they should be answerable for that, really. It’s embarrassing to rely on public donations.

But the public want to help. They are happy to help. Nobody is being made to help.

Personally I will happy help with something like that if it a) leaves the finances for things that can’t be as easily sorted and most importantly b) helps boost morale amongst those working in such awful conditions

FusionChefGeoff

I would optimistically suggest it's because it's completely unprecedented and so the logistics supply chain etc involved in sorting out so many for so long just isn't prepared. Rather than there's no money and the higher ups don't care.this and those looking for somone to blame it’s the fuckers starting the fires on purpose

Millionairess please can you say a huge thank you to your DH from us all? It’s such a bloody hard work, physically mentally and emotionally, and often it’s thankless. The big crises will draw thanks, but people forget that the emergency services and the fire service in particular, put their lives on the line day in and day out for others with little or no thanks.