The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) welcomes the publication of the Kerslake report into the Manchester bombing. There are hard lessons for all emergency services to learn in the report.
The FBU has been considering the implications of what happened on the night and will review those in the light of the report. The FBU looks forward to early discussions with the appropriate parties including the national fire service employers; the national fire chief’s council and the Home Office to discuss the issues outlined.
The FBU also looks forward to discussions with relevant parties in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Andy Dark, FBU assistant general secretary, said:
"The report has some important lessons for the fire service and for all emergency services. It raises important questions on the issue of communications that are central to the criticisms made of the fire service not least the impact of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service being the only emergency service in Manchester without its own dedicated service control room.
“A major cause of the problems encountered was the absence of any information being received by the fire service from the police. The wider issue, of course, is that government requires only small teams of firefighters to be trained and equipped for such incidents. There is currently a dialogue with the Home Office on the issue of funding for these arrangements.
“The FBU will be addressing these matters with vigour to find solutions to the problems identified in order to ensure that the fire service is prepared for such events in the future."
The report can be downloaded in full here.
