A firefighters' union has accused an authority of treating its members like "casual labour" after they were asked to take on extra work to cover a council contract.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has warned of the "thin end of the wedge of privatisation of the fire service" after the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority (DSFRA) asked firefighters to take on potentially hazardous shift work for its commercial arm.
The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) said the company, called Red One, is "not in any way" a move towards privatisation, and said its activities help fund frontline services and offset cuts. The service insisted it would not impact on fire cover.
The row centres around DSFRS's search for staff to work on a contract on the River Parrett, in Bridgwater, for about two months from late August.
It would involve running a boat required for water safety while Somerset County Council rebuilds part of the harbour wall at West Quay. It would be a private contract for the council, who would pay Red One.
The FBU says firefighters' safety could be compromised, yet they would not be covered by their usual terms and conditions agreement. They are asked to bring with them the equipment they use in their normal work – their personal issue water rescue boots, gloves and helmet.
Tam McFarlane, FBU executive member for the South West and a former Bridgwater firefighter, said safety arrangements appeared to be down to individual firefighters. He said: "This plan is dangerous, and insulting to professional firefighters, who are being treated like casual labour.
"If the fire service cannot protect construction works on the River Parrett, where else will it be forced effectively to withdraw from? Will all construction projects be forced to go out and hire casual labour to provide fire protection? If so, what will be next? Businesses? Shops? Homes? Once you have started down this path, it could lead anywhere."
Bob Walker, FBU chairman for Devon and Somerset, said: "If this were a totally private company attempting to provide rescue cover via firefighters 'working on the side' the fire service would condemn it as unsafe and tell them to leave this type of protection to the professionals. The fact that there is some form of fire service involvement is a blurring of the lines between a professional public sector emergency service and a casualised private provider."
But Neil Gibbins, deputy chief fire officer at DSFRS, said Red One carried out commercial contracts to help offset reductions in Government funding.
"Any commercial activity we become involved with will never impact on our core service delivery. This means we will never reduce staff numbers or put public safety at risk to fulfil contract obligations."
A Somerset County Council spokesman said the West Quay repair required riverside working, and said no contract had yet been awarded: "There is an obvious safety risk here so we are asking a variety of companies with the necessary specialist skills and experience to submit a proposal and price."