Unlike the rest of the country, firefighters in Oxfordshire do not have a legal obligation to help flooding victims, according to current rules.
Despite this, firefighters have been called to assist in hundreds of rescues in Oxfordshire following Storm Ciara and Dennis.
As a result, the county branch of the Fire Brigades Union, who have been campaigning for a rule change since 2016, argued that the rules as they stand could prevent money and other vital resources being available to residents of Oxfordshire when they are most needed.
A spokesperson from the group said: “We need government ministers and Chief Fire Officers to get around the table with the Fire Brigades Union and look at resources that are needed, what investment is required and look at a long term plan to deal with flooding incidents. Flooding is nothing new, and will only get worse with climate change, but our ability to tackle its consequences has been utterly undermined by a lack of long-term planning from this government.”
He further criticised the flooding response from the conservative government as a “shambles.”
Following a request for comment, Chris Dyson, Press Officer for Oxfordshire County Council, wrote: “Although the fire and rescue service has no statutory responsibility to deal with flooding or water rescue, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service has invested in equipment and training so we can provide assistance during flooding.
“The service provides support and carries out rescues following accidents on or in the water, and for people and animals stuck on ice or in mud.Each frontline appliance carries a water rescue capability, including floating lines to throw to people and inflation equipment for our hose to allow us to deliver it to people in need of rescue.
“Each appliance also carries dry suits and associated equipment to allow us to enter water, and life jackets to allow us to operate safely in and around bodies of water. This capability is enhanced by our specialist water rescue crew, based at Kidlington. They are trained to the highest level and are capable of swimming to casualties or accessing them via boat in order to rescue them.
“During times of mass flooding, we can also call upon a resilience stock of equipment held at Abingdon Fire Station. This equipment is delivered by the station to wherever it is needed and can include, extra life jackets and dry suits, inflatable rescue sleds, used to ferry people to safety.”
