New figures reveal that Suffolk's fire service has seen a 24% reduction in staff over the past 14 years.
The big picture: Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service now employs 595 people, down from 782 in 2010.
This includes full-time and on-call firefighters, as well as support staff like call handlers
The 24% drop in Suffolk is higher than the national average of 21%
Why it matters: Fewer firefighters and support staff could mean slower response times, fewer resources for prevention and an overwhelming of the service in the event of major or multiple incidents such as the recent fire at Sackers.
Zooming out:
England has been hit hardest, losing 22% of firefighter jobs
12 fire services in England have lost 25% or more of their workforce
Buckinghamshire saw the biggest fall at 40%
The FBU notes some firefighters have both full-time and on-call contracts, potentially inflating numbers
What they're saying: Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: "Fourteen years of austerity have devastated the fire and rescue service. Every region has been hit, with 12,000 firefighters lost to cuts across the UK."
He added that climate-related emergencies like flooding and wildfires mean "firefighters are being asked to do more with less."
The other side: A Home Office spokesperson stated: "We will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector to ensure all services have the resources they need to protect communities at the highest standard."
They added that fire and rescue services have received around £2.87 billion this financial year.
The bottom line: Cuts could impact emergency response times, potentially putting homes and lives at risk. The FBU is calling for urgent investment in fire and rescue services.
