Government plans to privatise more emergency services have been thrown into question after it emerged that debts at the private company operating London’s fleet of fire engines threaten its ability to tackle blazes in high-rise buildings.

A report obtained by the Observer, written by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, warned that AssetCo, which owns the capital’s 500 appliances and 50,000 pieces of critical safety kit, was beset by crippling financial problems that were affecting its aerial operations in particular. These involve the high-reach appliances used to tackle fires in offices and large industrial blazes that are considered to be of critical importance in the capital.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/may/05/london-fire-service-privatisati…