Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “The Fire Brigades Union is deeply saddened by the loss of at least 39 firefighters in a warehouse explosion in the Chinese city of Tianjin. With many more firefighters still unaccounted for, and the number of deaths likely to rise, our thoughts are with the friends, families and colleagues of those killed and missing.
“Firefighting can be a dangerous profession but as a trade union who has fought for improved safety protection for firefighters in the UK, we refuse to accept deaths as just a part of the job. Whether in the UK or China no firefighter should ever go to work expecting to lose their lives.
“Firefighters across the world face similar risks and challenges and the thoughts of all firefighters here in the UK will be with our colleagues in China and their families.”
