Firefighters having to beg for stuff

[purlandvick]

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 .

Sirzy ur comments are spot on, I was told today by a fire officer that what's not used by Stalybridge will be passed on to other stations . It was a serving officer that put out the tweet. The conditions on the moor are grim ,those that want to help can have.

The firefighters are working hard, however the appeal is clearly motivated. These items should either be stored at the station or bought specially.its not obvious why fire fighters can’t buy these items themselves.

The “ cash strapped” greater Manchester fire brigade can afford to pays its chief £200,000 pa and gave the retiring chief a party for 100 guests paid for by council tax payers.

Northernparent68

The firefighters are working hard, however the appeal is clearly motivated. These items should either be stored at the station or bought specially.its not obvious why fire fighters can’t buy these items themselves.
my husband did say this sun cream and socks if my husband didn’t have sun cream we have some in the house doesn’t everyone

They would have sun cream and socks at home but once on a shout you can't just say 'Oh can we stop at my house on the way to pick up my spare socks!'

They are using this stuff because they are fighting a bloody massive fire . It's not logical to expect them to be able to shop n work as well as firefight . If this stuff helps people who are going above and beyond then good .I see them all the army , the firefighters and all the others up on the moors . I'm grateful that all our homes are still here , the wild life is sadly devastated and I hope that the fire is soon out . These people will never be forgotten in our town , they are all great .

Can't believe some of the posts on here. Firefighters are working ridiculously long hours, most of which are hotter for longer than we could ever predict, many not even local so away from home. The fire service is probably working flat to work out how they cover other emergencies ( which could involve any one of us) If we the public can help ease any of the burden on the firefighters, their families, or the service by providing essentials no one could have planned for then we should do so willingly rather than knock it. Please think through the reality of the situation. To those is you who are firefighters or families of firefighters THANK YOU. And I am sorry you have had to read some of the thoughtless comments on here

The requests in the NW have been from the Fire Service not the FBU. FFs have been working 17 hour shifts - my husband is absolutely shattered.

Getting refreshments to the FFs is difficult as they are spread over a large area - it’s not as simple as just taking your lunch with you. There has a been a huge amount of local support which they are very grateful for.

The Fire Service has even had to ask for equipment to be loaned. Local voluntary groups are manning the road closures, fire-watching and trying to keep the sightseers away.

Buy them themselves? Really? What if they can't afford to? I've had times when decent suncream would have been a stretch to buy. And if you don't have children then no I can't imagine everyone does have suncream in the house. Plus food and lots of drinks for the day can add up.
And working the shifts they are at the moment, they're barely getting sleep and down time as it is without popping to the supermarket as well.

I have happily donated to our local mountain rescue who have done sterling service on the moors

I live right next to the fields where the fire is and the smell is awful now Some thick twat was caught trying to start another fire deliberately the other day too.
The emergency services are doing a fantastic job and I wish rain would come and hurry up for them.

Tbf though OP has posed the post as though firefighters are appealing for goods because they are so lacking in funds they can’t afford it. And that’s not actually the case when it’s about logistics.

To be honest firefighters are awesome, but they’re not really under resourced major events like this are the exception rather than the norm. And we can’t always crew up for the expections.

We have a lot less whole time firefighter but we also have a lot less fires. Our location station mainly deals with road traffic accidents.

Also if you end up on these major incidents and I’ve been on a few. They’re will be the Red Cross or other charity with the butty wagon and support but the scale of this one is massive. A good friend has been fighting both the Saddleworth on and the Winter hill one.

Would add there’s plenty of Mountain Rescue and other specialists volunteer teams supporting the fire service supply communications, local knowledge and logistical support.

A parent in my dds class is a firefighter who has been on this! He described it as like hell, like a burning planet

It really is awful. The photo yesterday from NASA was truly shocking. It breaks my heart every day.

I'm the op I didn't state it was due to funds . I said they were having to beg . They needed certain stuff quickly and people have rallied around and helped with that . This fire has been burning for 11 days . How long does a situation no matter how unusual kick in a response higher up . If all the people who helped had ignored that plea what state would the poor buggers on that moor be in .This situation could carry on so having a decent supply of essentials takes a tiny bit of pressure off. The comments on here have shown how people's opinions differ widely. I take comfort in the majority having the needs of others in a shit situation in the front of their mind . My nan used to say , " kindness cost nowt".

This is typical of many big organisations. Lions led by donkeys. Fat arsed managers with not a clue about the front line,, in industry up and down the land. Just like that twat of a CEO at BT Mr Gavin Echlin Patterson who has run the company into the ground for years due to his incompetence,whilst drawing millions in pay and then announces thousands of redundancies other than his own. Luckily the board bucked under pressure from big shareholders and they will now make him redundant.

@Limpopobongo have you read any of the comments below?? This is totally different. Am going to report your post

Help I think im being cyber bullied. I express an opinion or make general commentary and someone takes it upon themselves to report me? is this what life on mumsnet is all about? How incredibly petty.

You are not being cyber bullied. I'm just pointing out that You made a very inappropriate and insensitive comparison. Maybe see if you can find the north west daily news reports about what the firefighters are dealing with and then if you still feel your post is appropriate then fair enough.

I know all about it. I can smell it in my home not a million miles away..

There seems to be quite a few of us in the vicinity of the fires.

Maybe we should start a thread?

@Limpopobongo then even more shocking that you posted what you did.

Is anyone else "shocked" that i suggested that the FFs on the ground may be being led by higher level managers who are far too removed from the front line, a common issue in many industries,,and if you are shocked, do you feel that i should not be able to voice an opinion?