CREW reductions in the name of austerity are putting both firefighters and the public at risk, the FBU conference heard yesterday.

A motion from the union’s Staffordshire branch noted that some brigades were sending out crews of three per vehicle.

Cumbria brigade chairman Dave Burn said that sending out small teams placed immense pressure on individuals.

Kent brigade chairwoman Jenny Impey said that stations in her county had used aggressive tactics to push through reductions.

“All our appeals are falling on deaf ears,” she said.

General secretary Matt Wrack warned: “The gains we’ve made over many decades are being rolled back and taken away from us.”