It is ‘too early to say’ whether cuts being made to the budget of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service are having an impact on services, the organisation’s deputy chief fire officer has said.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the number of deaths from house fires in the county is the highest since records began, with six people passing away in such incidents since April – the worst figure for 13 years.

By comparison there have only been eight deaths from fires in the county in the five years before the latest figures.

It comes as the authority embarks on a programme of cuts to make £3 million of savings over four years.

But John Redmond, deputy chief fire officer for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said a link between the statistics could not be established as yet.

“It is far too early to say the cuts we are making to the budget are having an impact on the ground,” he said.

“We are having quite a few fire deaths recently but we do get spikes at certain times of year.

“To link it to the budget cuts is far too early. It is a three-year programme and we only started in April.”

Mr Redmond said one money-saving measure is a reduction in the smoke alarm budget in 2013/14.

“Until recently, we have been offering smoke alarms to anybody who contacted us, but we are now focusing on the most vulnerable – elderly people, people with low incomes and single parents with children.”

He said the service would still be providing advice to householders, with people who are not eligible for a free alarm encouraged to purchase one themselves.

“There is a certain type of person vulnerable to fires – an elderly person living on their own, possibly struggling to make ends meet and maybe on medication. We are finding a lot of people like that suffering serious fires and sometimes dying.

“I would say if you are that person in question or a friend or relative, please contact us and we will arrange a visit and fit a free smoke alarm if it is needed.”

To contact the fire service about the issue, call (01743) 260260.

By Chris Burn