Fire jobs face axe as £20m cuts expected

It is anticipated about 120 posts will be axed including firefighters, retained firefighters and operational and support staff.

But fire chiefs said they hoped to avoid compulsory redundancies and plan to re-deploy staff or change the way the service operates to cover frontline losses. More jobs could go if the Government's autumn spending review demands higher than predicted cuts.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling said: "The exact scale of the challenge will not be known until central government announces the results of its comprehensive spending review, but we could face a 20m cut in grants between 2011 and 2015.

"That's a staggering figure, but I fear it will probably not be far off the mark." Of the anticipated 120 job losses, 20 are firefighters based at stations plus 13 retained firefighters. Mr Pilling said the number of fire crews would not change. He said he hoped the job losses could be found through early retirement or voluntary redundancy.

Mr Pilling added: "Of course, we'll strive wherever possible to put the frontline first because that's what the public expects us to do, but as a result there will be fundamental change in the 'back office' during 2011 and onwards.

"This will affect a range of support services from catering to training and fire safety inspections."

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority gave the go-ahead yesterday for consultation on the proposals.