Brigade chiefs investigate moonlighting fire-fighters
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• Three Cumbrian fire-fighters "moonlighted' as truck drivers for Eddie Stobart without taking sufficient rest, according to allegations from Stobart drivers.
Fire chiefs are investigating the allegations which were spelt out in a letter to the brigade's headquarters in West Cumbria.
Stobart confirms that three fire-fighters have worked for the firm on a casual basis but insists all the necessary checks were made and that the firefighters were fit to drive because they had taken sufficient time off.
But regular Stobart drivers claim that some fire-fighters have been working virtually full time for Stobart, undertaking regular long-haul overnight journeys to destinations as far away as Kent.
Full-time Cumbrian fire-fighters are contractually barred from taking on other paid work.
Cumbria Fire Service spokesman Phil Chalmers confirms that the inquiry into the allegations is underway but declined to comment further.
One of the regular Stobart drivers behind the allegations says: "These lads work four days on and four days off for the fire service, and two of them have been working virtually fulltime as casual wagon drivers.
They work constantly, hay ing no days off The other drl• vers are not impressed: these guys are actually taking work away from some of us, but they must also be getting very tired. In a job like that, you need your wits about you."
Gillian Inglis, Eddie Stobart's administration director, says none of the three fire-fighters has ever worked for four days at a stretch. "They have always had time off before doing a shift at Eddie Stobart."
Inglis adds that the firm has not broken any law: "The Fire service has never approached ESL with any concerns, or to say it's not legal.
"I believe the fire-fighters have been told that they can't drive for us anymore."