Fire brigade defends £800 cost of seagull rescue
THE fire brigade has been accused of wasting taxpayers'
money after seven firefighters took two hours to rescue a
seagull.
One crew was called to the roof of a sausage factory after
reports a bird was trapped under netting.
The RSPCA called Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
on Wednesday to free the bird. But when they discovered they
could not reach it, they called for back-up. A second crew with
a hydraulic aerial platform was then dispatched by fire service
headquarters.
It travelled 12 miles from its base in Taunton to the
sausage factory in Bridgwater. The estimated cost of the rescue
operation was £800.
The fire service has defended its actions saying the
operation was “good training”. It is planning to send the RSPCA
a bill for the costs of the rescue but the RSPCA has not
confirmed whether or not it will pay. Chris Ellis, of
Bridgwater fire station, said: “We responded at the request of
the RSPCA. It was an animal welfare incident where we attempted
to access the roof via other means but the bird was in an
inaccessible area so we requested the use of the hydraulic
platform. To leave the bird trapped in netting on the roof
would have been inhumane.”
A fire service spokesman said: “Contrary to earlier reports
of this incident, we are claiming the expenses from the RSPCA
for that incident as our services were requested for that
organisation.”
Every year the fire service is called out to rescue animals
that have become trapped or fallen. But the costs of each
operation has led to criticism about whether so much time and
money should be spent by public bodies to save them. Earlier
this month, a 14-month-old Charolais bullock – worth around
£600 – survived a 100ft plunge after being rescued by an RAF
helicopter. Two dozen firefighters were involved in the rescue
at Porthgwarra, near Land's End. It took three days to winch
the beast to safety and cost £9,000. The bullock was treated
for minor injuries but survived its ordeal.
The Ministry of Defence charged the RSPCA with the costs of
the rescue but eventually waived the fee.
The RSPCA said it would consider the merits of any payment
request from the fire service in regard to the seagull rescue.
If it refuses to pay, the costs will be borne by the
taxpayer.
Earlier this week two further cows were rescued by fire
crews.
At 9am yesterday fire crews were again called by the RSPCA
to rescue a seagull that was trapped in a TV aerial. One crew
from Exmouth freed the bird, which was taken to a vet where it
died.
9 Comments
by Michael, Dumfries, Virginia, USA
Tuesday, July 22 2008, 1:57PM
“I believe that the cost for the rescues is probably inflated by adding in the man-hours used, and adjusted to the pay scales for each person. However, this payment would have been done by taxpayers if they were back at the station washing the trucks.
This is excellent training, as it gives the rescuers a goal, instead of climbing a training tower. The only real additional cost involved is the fuel cost of transportation of the vehicles, since the vehicles would be running during a training exercise anyways.”
by Matt, Plymouth
Tuesday, July 22 2008, 9:52AM
“Seems to me that these unusual operations are perfect training exercises for the firefighters. You can only go up the same concrete tower next to the fire station so many times! And as an added benefit it shows some still care about everything else around us.”
by Susan, Derriford
Tuesday, July 22 2008, 7:40AM
“I think our Cornish seagulls have higher IQs than their Californian counterparts. Seriously though, they do have feelings, I was a vetinerary nurse have handled lots of them. They admittedly are not friendly or lovable but nonetheless have feelings. In the words of the great Gandhi "a nation is judged by the way it treats its animals". I rest my case.”
by T, West Hoe
Monday, July 21 2008, 11:56PM
“I called the rspca last week to rescue a seagull trapped on my balcony. The rspca chap had to come all the way from newquay but the seagull lived. I'think the rspca are amazing and one of the only things that makes me proud to be british.”
by Jennie Baldrin, Devon
Monday, July 21 2008, 9:23PM
“David, the Cornish seagulls have a much higher intellect than its Californian counterparts. Seriously though, of course they feel pain. I am a veterinary nurse and have had a lot of experience with them. They may not be the friendliest of creatures, but they certainly feel pain the same as any other living creature.”
by David Cavallaro, california U.S.A.
Monday, July 21 2008, 4:29PM
“Since when are seagull sentient. What is the I.Q. of this bird?? What language does it speak to make itself understood to the rest of the world??”
by Susan, Derriford
Monday, July 21 2008, 3:19PM
“Yes, this seagull certainly should have been rescued. Are we supposed to stand by and let sentient beings suffer without doing anything about it. We have laws in this country about humane treatment of animals.”
by SUSAN, PLYMOUTH
Monday, July 21 2008, 1:11PM
“Got to admit what a total waste of money for a seagull which unfortunately there are classed as vermin in other countries, then the damn thing died as well, its shame when all the positive comments for Fire Brigade are made then this happens but surely the RSPCA are responsible for calling them out”
by Dave Griffiths, south hams
Saturday, July 19 2008, 4:57PM
“The costs of maintaining the fire and rescue services are already borne by the taxpayer. This includes exercises and training and is included in their budget. The RSPCA is funded through donations. It would be morally incumbent upon them to offer a proportion of these donations to a firemens widows and orphans fund (if such a thing exists).
When fire and rescue services become dependent on profit-making deals, it is the thin end of the wedge leading to taxpayer's funding fatcat management consultancy and privately-owned fire brigades.
Do we really want to sell-off these essential services?”