Fire deaths rise by 21% as chiefs issue cuts warning

The latest figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government show that 294 people died in fires in England during 2015, an increase of 21% compared with the 242 deaths recorded in 2014. This has resulted in the largest increase of fire related fatalities for 15 years.
The chief fire officers from the six largest English cities outside London said the rise was worrying as the fire service faces budget cuts of up to 50% by 2020, from the 2010 benchmark.
“The budget cuts have seen the loss of frontline firefighters, response times getting longer, stations closing and fire prevention measures reduced too,” said a statement from the Association of Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Authorities.
The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, said Labour would force a vote on the fire service takeover: “Emergency services cannot keep communities safe if ministers keep cutting the police and the fire service budgets. These figures show that the government’s cuts have already gone too far.
West Midlands, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service face budget cuts of up to 50%.