Number of West Midlands Fire Service stations 'will change' in major modernisation plan, boss admits
West Midlands Fire Service is planning to close fire stations down as part of a major overhaul of its services later this year.
Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill believes the time is right to review how WMFS serves its communities.
Following a string of scandals in recent years, the service’s Birmingham headquarters has seen a steady turnover of leaders. At one point, the Government even stepped in, citing poor leadership.
Appointed over a year ago, CFO Tuhill will hope he has the political capital and goodwill of his employees to modernise the service.
He said: “West Midlands Fire Service has served our communities for over fifty years, yet our operating model has stayed broadly the same for more than a decade. We need to explore how we can remain effective, trusted, and there when people need us.”
“Several of our sites need major investment, so we can deliver the levels of service our communities expect. They need to be accessible and safe for our staff and visitors alike, with proper training and welfare facilities.
“The types of emergencies and risks for which we need to be prepared are changing. From climate change and flooding, through to people living longer and some becoming more vulnerable – our current model has to change to meet these complexities.”
CFO Tuhill admitted the number of stations in the West Midlands will probably change during the process.
He said: "This a chance for our communities to help us reimagine how we could operate, while keeping response times and public safety front and centre.
“We’re proud to reach the most serious incidents within five minutes. We know it increases someone’s chances of survival. Our analysis shows that, by altering the number of our stations to match risk and demand, we could maintain that standard and invest more in the stations we keep.
“However, no decisions have been made. This initial round of consultation is a chance for our communities to help us reimagine how we could operate, while keeping response times and public safety front and centre.”
Previous public consultations concerning a reductions in firefighters, engines or stations have led to fire bosses being accused of railroading through cost cutting plans and blinding respondents with science.
However, fire chiefs will now ask the public before and after the boffins and data analysts create their modernising plans to keep the public safe with less resources than a generation ago.
The online survey asks for people’s views on whether the service should, for example, redistribute resources and rebalance firefighters’ shifts, to release funds to reinvest in service delivery.
People will be asked say how they think any financial savings should be reinvested by the service, and on which future risks and challenges.
Dudley Councillor Cathryn Bayton, Chair of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, admitted finances are stretched.
She said: "We're not making decisions yet – we're asking for views. With financial pressures and new risks facing our communities, we do need to consider change"
Councillor Bayton, who was appointed in November 2024, added: “The firefighters, control staff and support teams who serve the West Midlands every day make a real difference in keeping people safe. This consultation is about making sure they can continue to do so into the future, making the very best use of public money.
“We are not making decisions at this stage – we are asking for views. With financial pressures and new risks facing our communities, we do need to consider change."
She added: “We want to hear from our communities, staff and partner organisations. Our final proposals will then be shared publicly for further consultation later in the year, before anything is agreed.”
WMFS’s public consultation until Sunday 15 March 2026.
The survey can be accessed on the service’s website.
