New figures have revealed that fire crews across Essex have been significantly and consistently understaffed with nearly a sixth of all shifts last year having fewer than the minimum recommended number of firefighters.
A freedom of information request made and reported by ITV Anglia revealed that in 2014, when county firefighters responded to over 14,000 emergencies, fire crews were understaffed on 16% of occasions, raising concerns over the safety of the public and firefighters.