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.