FIRE chiefs are predicting frontline staff absences could soar by almost 20 per cent this year as the stress of budget cuts takes its toll.
Full-time operational staff are expected to take an average of just under six days off sick this year compared with fewer than five last year if the figures for the first quarter continue.
The service is facing pressure from Government budget cuts and a nationwide recruitment freeze, meaning firefighters leaving the service are not being replaced.
Officials at the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said this was leading to longer, more expensive commutes for staff as they were relocated to fill vacancies.
Humberside FBU chairman Rob Vaux said: "I've seen a massive increase in the number of personnel suffering the effects of stress.
"They're moving personnel from oversubscribed areas – we've had people being moved from the north of the Humber to the south.
"Luckily, we've escaped redundancy but as and when people retire, that's where savings are being made."
Mr Vaux is calling on the service to provide financial aid for relocated firefighters facing long commutes, possibly through petrol expenses.
He said the FBU was consulting solicitors on the matter.
The absence figures were discussed at a meeting of the Fire Authority's Governance, Audit and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday.
They show 2,600 sick days were taken by frontline staff in nine months.
At the meeting Robin Graham, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service's director of people, said the figures were still lower than at other brigades.
He said: "In all areas, our absence is comparatively low.
"It may seem as if it's gone up, because it has, but compared with other organisations going through similar restructuring, it's lower.
"Nationally, stress is the single biggest cause of sickness absence – it's an increasing factor."
Despite the predicted rise in sick leave, the fire service is still out-performing its targets.
There were three fewer fatalities this year between January and March than in the same period last year.
Officers aim to respond to home fires within eight minutes and road accidents within 15 minutes.
Last month, it took engines an average of six minutes and five seconds to arrive at houses after emergency services were called.
Firefighters made it to road accidents in seven minutes and 19 seconds – less than half the target time.
However, further savings are likely in the future, with a £1.6m deficit expected in the financial year from April 2014 to April 2015.
Mr Vaux said the cuts could begin to put people at risk.
He said: "The amount of people off sick always has an effect on operational capability.
"Overall, it's a massive concern to us. We've seen a big increase in the amount of suffering from stress."
A spokesman for the service said: "There has been a small increase in sickness absence levels.
"However, the whole-time operational sickness levels are still below the national average.
"This increase has had no impact on our emergency response standards."
