On 4 May, firefighters, MPs and the public came together for Firefighters’ Memorial Day to remember the firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
At midday, on-duty firefighters across the UK stood outside their fire stations for a minute’s silence and sounded sirens in honour of their fallen brothers and sisters.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack laid a wreath on behalf of the FBU at the National Firefighters’ Memorial at St Paul’s, alongside Sarah Mullallay, Bishop of London, and Mia Holborn, London Fire Brigade Chaplain, on behalf of the Firefighters’ Memorial Trust. Members of the public joined in the minute’s silence through a livestream of the wreath-laying on the FBU’s Facebook page.
Matt Wrack also addressed members in a Zoom call, alongside FBU president Ian Murray and FBU national officer Tam McFarlane. He paid tribute to firefighters Simon Kaye, Stevie Kerridge, and Josh Gardner, who lost their lives in the line of duty this year, as well as colleagues who have died from coronavirus in the USA and Italy.
The Mirror and Tribune marked the day with articles from the general secretary discussing the importance of Firefighters Memorial Day and the union’s commitment to fighting for safer working conditions to prevent future tragedies.
Other special tributes to fallen firefighters were unveiled, including a video commemorating Firefighters’ Memorial Day, which was premiered on the union’s YouTube channel on the evening of Sunday 3 May. A list of all the names of the 2,300 firefighters who have died in the line of duty is now available on the Firefighters’ Memorial Day page of the FBU’s website.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said:
“Firefighters’ Memorial Day is always a moving day, and I want to thank everyone who supported the event this year in what were difficult and unusual circumstances.
“It’s important that we remember our fallen brothers and sisters, and it’s also vital that we keep striving for better and safer working conditions, for now and for the future.
“The FBU will keep fighting for the safety of every firefighter to prevent future tragedies."
