Only six out of hundreds of fire service rescues were from fires in Shropshire
Firefighters in Shropshire have saved hundreds of people from harm over the past year – but only six were rescued from fires, while more than 80 were cut free after car crashes.
Fire crews from Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority have saved a total of 251 people from harm since April 2014, data from the notable incidents record has revealed.
The figures show more than 400 acts of protection or rescue have been carried out over the past year at significant incidents, ranging from leading people to safety and administering first aid after a car crash.
A total of 82 people were cut free from crashes, 83 advised to leave buildings and another 33 were given first aid at the scene of a fire.
It comes as the fire authority announced at a meeting it has set its annual budget for the financial year 2015/16 at £21.4million, a figure that will fall by nearly £1million over the next five years.
The budget will be funded by £7million of grants and business rates as well as £13million council tax precept – £9million from Shropshire Council and the remainder £4million from Telford & Wrekin.
By 2019/20, the fire authority expects its budget to be £20.4million.
But despite the falling budget figures, the number of lives saved equates to a value of £45million, according to the authority.
In a report discussed at the meeting, held at the Shropshire Education and Conference Centre in Shrewsbury, it said: "There is no standard concept for the value of a specific human life in economics.
"Previous discussions have raised the issue of appropriateness, when placing a monetary value on life and the difficulties this presents, when the people saved from fire or other incident are of varying ages and abilities.
"However, in order to determine the financial benefit of carrying out treatment regimens on hospital patients, estimates are applied to the value of life for every additional year of "quality life" that person may enjoy."
Calculations estimate how much longer a victim rescued is likely to enjoy quality of life with an average life expectancy of 80 years, and that number is multiplied by £30,000 for each year.
In total, the 449 lives saved by Shropshire and Wrekin firefighters equated £48.5million.
The figures show only six people were rescued directly from fire, making up only three per cent of the notable incidents.
Instead, there were 33 who were given first aid at the scene of the fire – 11per cent of incidents.
The meeting also discussed the need to review the future use of Stafford Park site in Telford, a site of a fire station and training centre.
