"Day crew plus" duty systems
9 in 10 emergency services personnel are affected by stress and mental health problems
The general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union has responded to the publication of new figures by the mental health charity Mind that found 9 in 10 emergency services staff have experienced stress, low mood and poor mental health at some point whilst working for the emergency services. Matt Wrack...
One week on Essex 999 fire control system still in chaos
A week has passed since the new ‘state of the art’ control system for Essex collapsed and yet the FBU continues to receive reports of continued failings and faults with the system. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service began using the new system, intended to select what fire appliances are sent to...
Public safety before party politics: Staffordshire firefighters urge councillors to do the right thing on 16 February
Firefighters in Staffordshire are urging members of the public to join them when they lobby the fire authority meeting on 16 February to urge them to “forget party politics and do what is right for the safety of people who live in the region”. Current plans would see spending on Staffordshire’s fire...
Cambridgeshire firefighters call for better terms and conditions to recruit to safe levels
Cambridgeshire MP, Stephen Barclay recently issued a supporting appeal in the local paper asking for local retained firefighter applicants for Manea Fire Station which lies within his constituency. Manea, having recently successfully fought off the threat of closure, is having difficulties in...
Sunderland rally on Saturday to protest at closure of fire stations
The centre of Sunderland will lose its fire station – and Tyne and Wear will lose a total of three fire stations and an estimated 130 jobs – unless the fire authority can be made to react to overwhelming public opinion and reverse decisions that will put the public and firefighters at risk...
Fire service faces trial over death of hero firefighter Ewan Williamson
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service stands accused this week of health and safety breaches that contributed to the death of firefighter Ewan Williamson in 2009, as a trial gets underway. Ewan was involved in operations at the Balmoral Bar, Edinburgh, as part of the then Lothian and Borders Fire and...
Union calls for urgent action as university report examines deaths of 14 UK firefighters
UK firefighters are calling for urgent meetings with all stakeholders following the release of a report into UK firefighter fatalities commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and produced by the University of Stirling. “We want this report to focus minds on what can be done to improve public...
