Firefighters in Oxford and across the county of Oxfordshire are voting this month on whether to go on strike following a series of proposed cuts to the local fire service. The Fire Brigades Union launched the formal ballot in February 2026 after the local authority suggested closing several fire stations and reducing staff numbers.
Under the plans from the Oxfordshire County Council, at least 42 firefighter jobs would be lost and six fire engines would be removed from service. The proposal includes closing the on-call fire stations in Eynsham, Woodstock, and Henley-on-Thames as part of a wider effort to save money.
The council also plans to merge the Rewley Road station in Oxford and the Kidlington station into one single new site in the north of the city. Council leaders argue these changes are needed to modernise the service and fix problems with staff availability at smaller stations across the region.
Union officials have called the plans dangerous and warned that losing staff and equipment will make emergency response times longer for residents. Steve Wright, the General Secretary of the union, said the cuts would put lives at risk by reducing the number of firefighters available to attend fires and accidents.
A public consultation regarding the fire service changes ended on 31 January 2026. If the firefighters vote in favour of the strike, the council may have to put emergency plans in place to maintain coverage for the community while staff are away from work.
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