FIREFIGHTERS will respond to more call-outs under a proposed new public safety plan for Surrey.

Drawn up to cover the next 10 years, the county council’s proposals include firefighters responding to medical emergencies when a fire crew can reach a patient sooner than an ambulance as well as the usual ‘shouts’ to help put out fires and deal with crashes and other emergencies including freeing trapped motorists.

The scheme is already being trialled across the county.

Firefighters will also give paramedics quick access to the homes of patients who can’t get to the door, help people with ‘telecare’ devices, who report problems such as falls, and further develop their fire and road accident prevention work.

Surrey County Council is facing a funding gap of £50million over the next two years, including increasing demand for adult social care services, and it has to find savings.

Measures such as merging back-office functions with neighbouring fire services and other organisations, and reducing management tiers would contribute to generating almost £6million of savings over the next five years without a reduction in fire service cover.

Kay Hammond, Surrey County Council’s cabinet associate for community safety services, said: “Our crews obviously have to continue to tackle fires in the way they always have but the reality is, thanks in part to our prevention work, they are now more likely to be called to different kinds of incidents.

“That’s why it’s vital we widen the scope of the service so that, as well as responding to fires, floods and road accidents, they work with other emergency services and help save even more lives. We are confident these proposals will reflect the demands and expectations of a fire service in the 21st century.

“We’ll be responding to more call-outs covering a wider range of incidents for the benefit of Surrey residents, saving £6million over the next five years.”

The council cabinet has just approved a public consultation on the draft plans which runs until June 7.

A public meeting will be held at Guildford Fire Station on Wednesday, May 18, from 7pm, to to learn more about SFRS’s draft public safety plan for 2016-25 and comment on the draft proposals.