“Removing Deal's on-call fire engine will place our town in severe danger.”

Published: 30 July 2026

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has published revised proposals ahead of the extraordinary meeting of the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (KMFRA) on Thursday 6 August. (Click here to read)

The amended proposals have been published following a six-week extension and include the removal of the on-call fire engine from four of the combined wholetime and on-call fire stations – Herne Bay, Deal, Faversham and Tunbridge Wells.

In response, Deal Town Council has written to Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority members and the Chief Executive and Directors of the KFRS, to retain current staff levels at Deal Fire Station and to maintain two pumps.

Mayor of Deal, Cllr Mike Eddy said: “Removing Deal's on-call fire engine will place our town in severe danger.

“Deal is, and has been since World War Two, a two-pump town.

“The KFRS resourcing review that is being put forward at the extraordinary meeting in August is not fit for purpose and fails to understand the demands on the crews in Deal, our unique geographical position, the struggling infrastructure and changing climate we are facing today.

“It poses more questions than it answers and is running alongside several reviews that should be considered in the round, not sectioned off and dealt with in a ‘financial envelope’

“We are strongly urging the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority to reconsider this proposition as it puts the lives and livelihoods of the people of Deal at great risk.”

If the proposals are approved in August, there will be an eight-week consultation.