23rd April 2026
On 21 April 2026 Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet agreed to withdraw a proposal presented in the public consultation to remove the second fire engine at Thame fire station.
Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “Thank you to everyone who shared their views, we received well over a thousand responses. It’s apparent, having read and listened carefully to those who gave their feedback during the consultation, that local people are keen to support existing fire stations in their towns and villages.”
OCC will now consider consultation feedback alongside similar proposals recently consulted on by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, particularly given the proximity of Thame and Haddenham fire stations. Read the full article on OCC’s website.
Reacting to the news, Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame, commented: “I’m delighted that the council has listened to the voices of concerned residents in Henley and Thame. We were told from the start that the proposed changes, including the closure of Henley and loss of second fire engine in Thame, was not set in stone and I’m glad that has proved the case.”
Could you be an on-call firefighter?
On-call firefighters are everyday people who do extraordinary things. They balance their other jobs and commitments with being ready to respond to emergencies at a moment’s notice. Because of this, they need to live or work close to the fire station they respond from.
Further details, including how to apply to become an on-call firefighter, are available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.
