More firefighter flood training needed, union says

Even though the fire and rescue service responds to flooding incidents, the Fire Brigades Union says it was "not statutorily obliged to do so"

A union is calling for more training to help firefighters in a "flood-plagued" county.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said while Oxfordshire communities continued to suffer repeated flooding, there was "little to no change" in the government's response to "proactively" address the issue.

FBU vice president Steve Wright said the service needed extra funding to "adequately" train and equip its personnel.

The government said it would continue work "to ensure all services have the resources they need to protect communities at the highest standard".

The union said the term unprecedented was "no longer applicable or relevant" when it comes to flooding in Oxfordshire, as the county had been "plagued" with it in recent years.

It added that despite the fire service providing a response, it was "not statutorily obliged to do so".

"This means that despite the UK government acknowledging the risk the UK Fire and Rescue Service receives no additional funding to adequately train, resource or equip fire service personnel," it said in a statement.

It said communities continued to suffer repeated incidents of flooding "that cause untold damage, destruction and threat to life".

"Yet there little is little to no change in response from the UK government in terms of proactively addressing what has now become a regular natural and environmental hazard."

Mr Wright, who is also an executive council member for the southern region, said people deserved "a better response" from the government.

"No proactive measures have been taken to adequately train, resource or equip an already overstretched [fire and rescue service]," he said.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Throughout the country, our firefighters operate in uniquely challenging and high-risk environments to protect our communities.

"Our Fire and Rescue Services are receiving around £2.87bn in this financial year, and 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."