Cuts

Fire services have lost nearly a third of their fire safety inspectors since 2010, a shock report reveals. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), who compiled the figures from a series of Freedom of Information requests, says the staggering 28% drop in inspector numbers across the UK is a risk to public...

Proposals from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) to save £1m a year would put public safety at risk, says the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). A proposal to introduce ‘mixed crewing’ (a mixture of full time or ‘wholetime’ firefighters with on call or ‘retained’ personnel) at two out of three...

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) have revealed that budget cuts to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s control room are putting lives at risk, with staffing reductions to blame. In 2016, the service reduced the number of emergency control operators from 22 to 15. Untrained staff are fielding...

The FBU's general secretary, Matt Wrack's speech at the Durham Miners' Gala captures the feeling of the Fire Brigades Union in the aftermath of Grenfell. Watch Matt's full speech here: https://youtu.be/vpJRjivXYNE

Reacting to the publication of a Government report into Avon Fire Authority, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has raised serious concerns regarding comments on operational response and warned that the report must not be a smokescreen for cuts. The report, published today (19 th July) and entitled ‘...

Surrey firefighters had to call on three neighbouring brigades last night (Tuesday 11 th July) when services were stretched to breaking point as two fires broke out. A fire at Weybridge Community Hospital at midnight prompted 65 calls to Surrey’s stretched Emergency Control Centre (ECC) which was...

Fire engines are being sent to incidents in Northumberland with a crew of just three firefighters, which is critically below the number needed to tackle a life-threatening fire, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has revealed. The trial scheme, known as ‘phased response’, currently underway at Wooler and...

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is fearful that a fire and rescue service response to another 7/7 style terrorist attack in London could be a lot less effective than it was 12 years ago due to sustained cuts to the fire and rescue service. The FBU has produced a map of the affected areas of the...