SAVAGE cuts to fire service funding are delaying arrivals at emergencies and putting lives at risk, including those of firefighters themselves, inspectors have found.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services investigated 15 fire services and found many in “need of urgent improvement” and that “far more is needed to be done to reduce risks to public safety.”

The inspectors reported a “toxic” culture in some fire services and was particularly critical of Gloucestershire’s, which was put into special measures this month, saying that it needed to “urgently improve” amid serious concerns about its ability to keep people safe.

Nonetheless, the report praised firefighters for their heroic efforts during the nationwide outbreak of wildfires and property destruction that accompanied last week’s record heatwave.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) welcomed the report but warned that, due to cuts, emergency arrival times have increased by nearly 40 seconds, which could make the difference between life or death.

The union said that funding cuts, started by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2010 and continued by the Tories ever since, had meant the loss of 11,500 front-line firefighters and control room staff and cost the remainder a real-terms pay reduction of £4,000 a year.

FBU national officer Tam McFarlane said: “We welcome the chief inspector’s recognition of the hard work of firefighters in the horrendous wildfires last week.

“However, firefighters will all tell you the same thing: cuts to resources mean that fire and rescue performance is declining rapidly.

“Firefighters and control staff do the best job they can do each and every day, but with 11,500 less firefighters compared to 2010, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain public safety.

“Fire and rescue services responded to almost 150,000 fires in 2021, non-fire incidents have increased by 18 per cent and 2021 saw a 27 per cent increase in fire-related fatalities. Meanwhile, average response times are up by nearly 40 seconds since 2010-11.

“More broadly, these reports highlight the full reality of a decade of devastating budget cuts, with some fire and rescue services so cash-starved that they are selling land and buildings to try and survive.”

He also condemned fire authorities’ offer of a 2 per cent pay increase for firefighters.

The Home Office said it had launched a white paper with proposals for improving the service.