Suffolk Fire and Rescue called to help New Forest fire

Hampshire is the latest area to call for aid after a huge blaze broke out in the New Forest on Sunday leading to the national resilience call out.

More than 100 fire staff have offered to volunteer with the county's fire union leader concerned the massive efforts have left the service "on their knees" after the Dunwich wildfire.

Richard Beeby, brigade secretary of the Suffolk Fire Brigades Union (Image: Dan Laughlan)

Richard Beeby, brigade secretary of the Suffolk Fire Brigades Union, said: "It’s a bit of a rock and a hard place. People want to go. I want to see people go. It is absolutely right that we go to their aid because they came to ours - we are one big firefighting family.

"The only problem we have in Suffolk is that our availability at the moment is absolutely on its knees."

Jon Lacey, chief fire officer (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Jon Lacey, chief fire officer for Suffolk, said 100 members of staff had offered to be called up if required to help in Hampshire and other parts of the wider fire service.

He confirmed 12 firefighters and two fire engines would be sent to the south-east and that fire cover in Suffolk "will not be compromised".

In addition one fire engine, with six firefighters and an officer have been deployed to South Wales.

Mr Beeby said that out of the 35 fire stations across the county, only 12 are currently available due to a lack of recruitment in the last few years which has been compounded by firefighters taking summer holiday while others have had to prioritise their primary line of work.

Suffolk have not sent fire service resources to another county for eight years (Image: Halesworth Fire Station)

Mr Beeby added: "We're so on our knees in Suffolk - to the point that we struggle to be able to support and protect Suffolk - that we haven't had the resources to be able to sort of lend them out elsewhere.

“If we send the engines they need in Hampshire, we’re going to be in an even worse situation."

Mr Beeby explained that if a fire the size of the recent East Bergholt blaze took place - it would exhaust the county's resources and require extra help from other counties too.

"It has been eight years since we have sent Suffolk resources to other counties." Mr Beeby said.

Firefighters from across the country descended on Dunwich to put out the wildfire (Image: Joe Giddens/PA)

"We can’t accept people coming in [to help at Dunwich] and then not offer assistance back out. We’ve kind of got to.

“The reality is that it highlights more than ever just how much we’ve been cut to the bone.”

Tristan Gale, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (Image: Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service)

 Councillor Tristan Gale, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for planning, devolution & the fire service, said: “Fire and rescue services have a proud tradition of supporting one another when they are needed most. We saw that first-hand during the fires at Dunwich, when crews from across the country came to Suffolk's aid. It is right that we now play our part in supporting others.

 “There is no question that fire and rescue services across the country face significant financial and resource pressures, and we will continue to make the case for the investment our services need. However, that does not diminish the importance of mutual aid or the professionalism of our firefighters.

 “The deployment to Hampshire has been carefully planned, will not impact fire cover in Suffolk, and demonstrates the strength of the national fire and rescue service family when communities come together to help one another."