Crews from threatened fire station tackle De Beauvoir blaze

A fire fighter tackles yesterday’s blaze in De Beauvoir. Photograph: Eleonore de Bonneval

Crews from a fire station set to close as part of cost-cutting plans put out a blaze in a shed in De Beauvoir yesterday (Thursday).

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman confirmed two fire engines from Kingsland Fire Station attended the blaze in Hertford Road

Figures published earlier this year show the closure of Kingsland Fire Station as part of a plan supported by London’s Mayor Boris Johnson would cause response times in De Beauvoir to increase by 3.13minutes.

11 other fire stations are also set to close.

Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe has said he is “appalled” and “disgusted” by Mr Johnson’s decision.

Mr Johnson insists safety is still a “top priority” and that the decision has been taken to ensure that there is a balanced Fire Authority budget for 2014-15.

Myles Wolfers, 22, who lives next door to the garden where the fire broke out, said: “I haven’t seen any independent evidence that the fire service could be cut without there being an impact.”

He said an extra 3.13minutes added to response times could potentially mean the difference between life and death in the case of house fires.

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said the Brigade was called to yesterday’s fire at 6.39pm and the fire was out by 6.49pm.

Related: 

Opponents slam Boris after announcement Kingsland Fire Station will close 

Boris slammed: Kingsland Fire Station closure plans will increase response times