RECRUITING new Somerset firefighters was challenging with the current pay structure, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said.

FBU regional secretary Dave Roberts called on the Government to urgently provide extra funding to recruit more firefighters across the Westcountry.

Mr Roberts, a firefighter for 33 years, said: “Firefighters are highly-skilled professionals, dedicated to keeping their communities safe.

“But, their pay, and the current pay structures, fails to recognise their true value.

“Since 2003, a flat pay structure has left most firefighters stuck on the same pay rate for years, with limited opportunities for progression.”

Mr Roberts said the FBU wanted ‘new money’, not ‘penny-pinched from another pot’ by cutting other parts of the service.

The FBU is currently negotiating with the Government on pay, with a resolution expected by July.

Mr Roberts said pay reform and salary increases were justified given the increasing remit of firefighters.

He said: “Firefighters are facing increased demand, from record-breaking wildfires and flooding to the risks posed by unresolved building safety crises and increasingly varied non-fire incidents.

“The fire service is underfunded and undervalued.

“We are operating with 20 per cent fewer firefighters than in 2010, and Government funding has plummeted, our pay has fallen by 12 per cent in real terms.

“In many other public services, including teaching and nursing, workers benefit from structured pay progression.

“Firefighting demands years of training and the maintenance of critical life-saving skills, yet, once firefighters become fully qualified, there is no clear path to pay progression unless they secure a promotion.

“Morale and mental health within the service is under strain, and recruitment and retention are becoming serious challenges.

“If we are to maintain a world-class emergency response, we must ensure we have enough firefighters and equipment, and those on the front line are valued fairly and paid accordingly.”