Emergency rescue vehicles which carry vital life-saving equipment could be phased out of West Yorkshire by the end of the year.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe has joined Fire Brigade Union officials in condemning the plans to save £500,000 by the West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority.

They want to get rid of four emergency tender vehicles, one of which is based at Idle fire station, Bradford.

The union believes the proposals will compromise public safety as only a fraction of the rescue equipment carried by the emergency tenders can be supported by an ordinary fire engine.

They say equipment including heavy rescue cutting equipment, breathing apparatus, chemical and gas suits and winches, will take longer to off-load and move using ordinary fire engines, meaning precious minutes will be lost.

They are now calling for an urgent meeting with management to justify the proposals.

Divisional secretary of the Fire Brigade Union for the Bradford area Steve Lofthouse said: "This is very serious for the public of Bradford and West Yorkshire, who once again seem to be losing out.

"We might be getting larger rescue pumps which can carry similar gear to the emergency tenders, but only a fraction of the number.

"The rescue pumps have dismountable units, which have to be dropped off and picked up.

"This means when you get out to a scene you have to think about what to drop off and move on, which can take up to five minutes. 30 seconds can be a matter of life or death."

The emergency tender at Idle is called out for road accidents and serious incidents across West Yorkshire.

If plans are approved, the tender along with ones at Wakefield, Gipton and Huddersfield will be decommissioned by the end of the year.

Pod units carry various equipment throughout the Brigade. Major rescue units for example will carry heavy cutting equipment, trench collapse equipment and lifting gear. These are based at Cleckheaton and Hunslet.

Other pods include Major Salvage Units, which carry salvage equipment and pumps, and Command Support Units, which carry communications equipment.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire Service said that all the equipment currently carried on an emergency rescue tender would be accommodated on other vehicles and would be up-graded.

Gerry Sutcliffe said: "We don't want to see a cut in essential services. I'm very concerned about any burdens on fire safety provision in the district."

Chairman of the Fire and Civil Defence Authority Lawrence Conlon insisted that there would be no reduction in front line services.

He said: "Front line appliances would be on the scene within the required time and there will be no reduction in service."

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