Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is planning to permanently close eight fire stations. The affected stations are:
96 firefighter posts are on the chopping block, along with the 14 fire engines at these stations.
These plans are being driven as a cost-cutting measure by the Chief Fire Officer. But each of these on-call fire stations provides essential emergency cover for the communities they serve.
Removing these stations will mean slower response times, fewer available crews, and increased pressure on already-stretched neighbouring stations. When a fire engine has to travel further, people wait longer. And when people wait longer, lives are put at risk.
We call on every councillor on Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority to reject these closures. Their responsibility is to protect the public they serve, not to oversee the dismantling of a vital emergency service their communities rely on.
Cuts Kill. Keep all eight fire stations open.
Why is this important?
Cuts to the frontline are not savings. They come at the expense of public safety.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is already operating under immense strain. Since 2010, the service has lost around a fifth of its firefighter. Removing a further 96 roles would strip away another 14% of the frontline workforce, leaving crews dangerously overstretched.
We are already seeing the consequences of under-resourcing. In August 2025, a major wildfire at Holt Heath pushed the service beyond its limits. With too few crews and resources available locally, reinforcements had to be drafted in from as far away as Merseyside.
The pressures are only growing. Climate change is driving more frequent and more extreme wildfires, floods, and weather events. Demand on the fire service is rising. Slashing frontline capacity will make it harder to respond quickly and effectively, putting lives, homes and entire communities at risk.
Add your name now to demand these cuts are scrapped in full – and without delay.
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