The MFB proposes cutting the minimum number of firefighters on duty in Melbourne. When that happens, fire crews may not be able to respond as quickly as they currently do – within a maximum of 7.7 minutes of an alarm.

That’s the worldwide accepted standard that allows the best chance of rescuing people and preventing a fire spreading beyond its area of origin.

The MFB doesn’t have a crystal ball that tells them when and where emergencies will occur.

The MFB’s budget saving will inevitably cost lives and property.

Currently the MFB has a strict minimum of 269 firefighters on duty across Melbourne at any time, 24/7. If numbers fall below that level, the MFB has to call in off-duty firefighters.

But now the MFB wants to be exempt from that requirement.

The figure of a minimum of 269 firefighters on duty has been calculated so that a fire crew can respond within 7.7 minutes to any suburb that is covered by the MFB.

This formula maximises the chance of rescuing people from a burning structure.

In 90 per cent of cases, this is enough time to confine a fire to its area of origin, minimising property damage by stopping a fire from spreading.

Under the MFB proposal, some areas of Melbourne may not have adequate coverage at some times.

The current protection level provided in Melbourne will no longer be guaranteed.

Overseas studies show that this proposal will inevitably cost lives and put firefighters at unnecessary risk.

It all adds up to danger for the community – and firefighters.