Health and Safety

An official document reveals how London Fire Brigade managers misled the public over the seriousness of a fire in Dagenham during a strike by firefighters, the Fire Brigades Union in London has said. During industrial action over pensions on 2 November last year, firefighters were criticised by...

Responding to the Local Government Association’s report on cuts to fire and rescue services, Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “The LGA are right to say that fire and rescue services must be given the funding to play a key, continued role in national resilience. “But it’s clear that across...

Responding to the decision by Cleveland Fire Authority to close Marine fire station and cut 114 full-time firefighter jobs, Davy Howe, Fire Brigades Union secretary for Cleveland, said: “Local firefighters are deeply upset, angry and frustrated by this decision which we believe will put lives at...

Firefighters have accused the Mayor of London of having “blood on his hands” after a Woolwich pensioner lost his life following a fire in his home less than two months after his local fire station closed. Maurice Cunliffe, 83, died in the early hours of Thursday 27 February, four days after being...

Firefighters in East Sussex have criticised chief fire officer Des Prichard after he admitted he has no ‘Plan B’ over plans to cut firefighter jobs and fire engines. East Sussex Fire Authority are currently consulting the public over the proposals, which firefighters say could cost lives. Simon...

Plans for redundancies and £3.7 million of cuts to Hereford and Worcester Fire Service are dangerous and wrong, local firefighters have said. Representatives of the Fire Brigades Union were informed of possible compulsory redundancies at a meeting with senior managers last week. As well as £2...

The fire service’s biggest mobilisation since the Second World War is being undermined by shortages of equipment, staff and training, firefighters have said. The Fire Brigades Union said it was collating reports from members who were reporting having been involved in huge numbers of rescues and wide...

The general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, Matt Wrack, will visit firefighters combatting floods in the South West of England today (Friday 14 February 2014). His visit will start at Bridgwater Fire Station before seeing firefighters at work and the flooding command centre. Wrack said:...

Cuts announced to fire and rescue services in Surrey will mean areas currently facing flooding will lose fire and rescue stations, equipment and as many as 40 staff, firefighters have said. Last week, Surrey County Council agreed to close Sunbury and Staines fire stations and replace them with a...

Firefighters in East Sussex are warning that plans to cut the number of firefighters by 20% across the county will have a massive impact on the safety of the public and firefighters. On Friday 14 February members of East Sussex Fire Authority will vote on whether to consult on plans to reduce...