Buckinghamshire Fire Authority Plans Third Fleet Reduction Amid Safety Concerns

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority is considering plans to reduce its fleet from 30 to 22 fire engines, which could also involve closing fire stations at Great Missenden and Stokenchurch. Two options are under review: one includes station closures and engine removals from Haddenham, Great Missenden, and Stokenchurch; the other avoids closures but still cuts eight engines across various stations. These proposals, supported by the Liberal Democrat-led authority since June 2025, are undergoing pre-public consultation before a full authority vote on November 12, with a 10-week public consultation to follow if approved. Campaigners and Conservative MPs have strongly opposed the cuts, warning that reducing fire cover could jeopardize public safety, especially given the high demand during the 2023 wildfires when all 30 engines were deployed simultaneously. The Conservative-led authority previously rejected similar cuts and increased firefighter numbers to their highest since 2013. The fire service emphasizes that no decisions have been made yet and assures the public that safety will not be compromised during the review process.