UNION bosses have warned there will be a delay in emergency response times, despite welcoming the number of people stepping forward as on-call firefighters in Clacton.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said on-call crews have responded to almost 100 incidents since being introduced at Clacton Fire Station.

Previously both of Clacton’s fire engines were manned by full-time firefighters.

But since June 2016, Clacton’s second fire engine has been crewed by on-call firefighters, who are based locally and respond to pager alerts.

The system is known as mixed crewing and since the on-call team started, they have attended 93 incidents.

More than 100 people applied for the 16 on-call positions.

Alan Chinn-Shaw, secretary of the Essex Fire Brigades Union, said: “The recruitment of retained firefighters has been successful – there should be good availability.

“But people need to be aware that by moving to this system there is a delay in the turn-out of that appliance.

“Instead of two whole-time fire appliances leaving within two minutes of a call, one will leave within two minutes and one will be in five minutes.

“This could delay firefighters going into a building to make a rescue.

“While we recognise the recruitment aspect has been a success, and that mixed crewing is appropriate in some areas, our view is that Clacton should have remained as a two whole-time crews “This system means a reduction in the speed of response.”

The new on-call firefighters began their training in May last year. During training both crews worked together.

Mark Wilby, station manager of Clacton, Weeley and Frinton, said: “The approach has been one of inclusion and integration, and from day one our whole-time staff have been involved, and once the crews understood what we needed to achieve together, the work of recruiting a new on-call team began.

“Thanks to the efforts of our whole-time and recruitment teams, we received over 100 applications for the 16 on-call roles. Four of our successful candidates were previously fire cadets, so it has been great to see them grow into on-call firefighters.”

On-call crew manager Gary Clarke added: “The commitment our new recruits have shown is incredible and our thanks go to their primary employers who have allowed them the time to join us for training sessions with whole-time.

“The skills they have brought with them from their jobs have been invaluable.”

Lloyd Brinkley is one of the newest on-call recruits, and is a former member of the armed forces.

He said: “I applied to become an on-call firefighter as I wanted to help my community, and living so near to the fire station, it made sense.

“It’s been a steep learning curve and has been great to ride alongside wholetime so they can show us the ropes.”