Legal

The Fire Brigades Union has welcomed the decision by Scotland’s Crown Office to proceed with criminal hearings into the death of firefighter Ewan Williamson but disappointed that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continue to fight the case. Ewan Williamson lost his life in a fire at the Balmoral...

An online petition to save Hertfordshire firefighter, Ashley Brown, from the sack has attracted over 5,000 signatures in under 11days. The petition calls for the Cheshunt firefighter to be reinstated following his dismissal by Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service for discussing strike action on...

The Fire Brigades Union has launched an age discrimination legal challenge against the government over plans to reduce firefighters’ pensions by different amounts dependent upon age. As part of the proposed 2015 firefighter pension scheme, firefighters who retire between 55 and 60 will receive...

Firefighters in Lincolnshire may take legal action over proposals that would see them driving patients to hospital in an ambulance, the Fire Brigades Union has announced. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) have announced that ‘fire ambulances’ will be stationed...

On 3 December 2006, a fire at Marlie Farm in East Sussex killed two firefighters and injured at least nine others. The fire involved a complex of buildings at which a large volume of fireworks were being stored. The owners of the site were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter, and last year...

Surrey firefighters will seek legal advice after accusing Surrey Council of failing to consult the public properly before agreeing proposals that will see Sunbury and Staines fire stations closed. The council’s cabinet voted on Tuesday (4 February) to replace the two whole-time stations with a...

Three of the eight fire and rescue stations stations that attended the collapse at the Apollo Theatre last night will close under the Mayor of London’s cuts programme after the failure of a challenge taken to the High Court by campaigners. Reacting to the court’s decision, Fire Brigades Union London...

A judicial review into cuts to fire and rescue services in London begins at the High Court tomorrow. Fire Brigades Union London secretary Paul Embery said: “These cuts are reckless, wrong and will seriously endanger lives across the capital. “If they are implemented these savings will lead to an...

Reacting to news that East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s appeal over their liability for the deaths of two firefighters at Marlie Farm in 2006 has been rejected and that it will now renew their application to the Court of Appeal, Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary, said: “It’s time...