Fire stations must reopen | St George & Sutherland Shire Leader.

Miranda and Riverwood fire stations were forced to shut on Monday night after minimum safe crewing levels were not met due to firefighters taking sick or other unplanned leave.

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson said the government had put cost cutting before the safety of families.

“The O’Farrell government’s decision to close fire stations at Riverwood and Miranda to cut costs on Monday night put community safety at risk,” he said.

“If there had been a serious fire in the local area when those stations were closed, lives and property could have been put at risk.”

Former Hurstville mayor Steve McMahon said closing fire stations in the lead up to summer was madness.

The Fire Brigade Employees Union and Fire and Rescue NSW will reappear before the Industrial Relations Commission on December 4.