Firefighters in Cumbria are taking longer to get to fires than they did a year ago, new figures show.
The Fire Brigades Union said the fire service is "in crisis after years of austerity and fragmentation", with fewer firefighters and cuts to key resources.
Home Office data shows the average response time of the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service for primary fires was 11 minutes and one second in the year to March.
This was longer than the year before, when it stood at 10 minutes and 43 seconds.
It was also slower than 10 years ago, when the average response time was nine minutes and 59 seconds.
Primary fires are classed as more serious fires that could cause harm to people or damage to property.
Nationally the average response time for these fires fell from a record high nine minutes and 13 seconds to nine minutes and three seconds.
A decade ago, it stood at eight minutes and 16 seconds.
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary said: "While we face the flooding, wildfires and extreme weather of the climate emergency, we have lost one in five firefighters to cuts.
"Fewer resources mean that fire engines take far longer to arrive at a fire than in the 1990s, and fire services' capacity varies wildly by region. Last year's response times, the slowest in recent records, should have been a wake-up call.
"The Government must deliver on promises to end the fire cover postcode lottery through a statutory advisory body, and provide the urgent investment needed to protect homes and lives."
The data also reveals the total number of incidents attended by the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service has decreased.
In the year to March there were 4,822 incidents attended by firefighters in Cumbria – down from 5,076 the year before.
Of these, 1,688 were non-fire incidents, such as traffic collisions, medical emergencies or flooding-related callouts.
In Cumbria there were four fatalities, fewer than the year before when there were seven.
READ MORE: Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service workforce down by 1/3 since 2010
Lauren Woodward, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s Area Manager, said: “Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is committed to providing the communities of Cumbria and visitors to the area with the best possible service.
“Through our proactive prevention, protection and engagement work, we have seen the number of accidental dwelling fires fall by 13% in the last 12 months.
“Our response time to all incidents is under the organisational target of 10 minutes, with the average response time for the last 12 months being 9 minutes 28 seconds.
“We continually strive to improve the service we offer and are committed to providing a community focused, professional and trusted service that makes Cumbria a safer place for all.”
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