The Fire Brigades Union has responded to the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services State of Fire and Rescue 2022 report. Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: ‘The FBU is disappointed with the…
Firefighters and control staff strike ballot opens
A strike ballot for firefighters and control staff opened on Monday, 5 December. Firefighters and control staff are being balloted on potential strike action on a ‘derisory’ 5% pay offer. That pay offer had recently been rejected by FBU members in a…
Plaque unveiled for Northern Ireland firefighters killed by building collapse
A plaque has been unveiled for two Northern Ireland firefighters who died in the line of duty. The plaque was unveiled close to the 51st anniversary of their deaths, on Sunday, 20 November 2022. Leonard McCartney and Lexie Wylie were killed…
Firefighter’s son remembers his father at 50th Anniversary of Maryhill Road, Glasgow fire
Stephen McGill was only nine years old when his firefighter dad died in the line of duty. His father, Adrian McGill, was tackling a fire on Glasgow’s Maryhill Road. On 18 November 1972, crews were called out to a fire…
New: fire and rescue bosses have used controversial ‘retire and rehire’ practice
New data shows that a controversial practice that allows fire service bosses to dodge tax has been used in 13 fire and rescue services. The government has formally discouraged the practice in England. The practice involves predominantly senior fire officers…
Plaque unveiled for ‘extraordinarily brave’ firefighter who died in line of duty over 100 years ago
A plaque has been unveiled for a Sale firefighter who died in the line of duty in 1909. Superintendent John Johnson Hunt, aged 65, was fighting a fire at the Brooklands Hotel in Sale when a portion of the roof…
Plaque unveiled for London firefighter killed in hotel fire over 65 years ago
A plaque has been unveiled for a firefighter who was killed in the line of duty. Leading Firefighter Frederick Charles Willoughby, of Twickenham, was overcome by fumes whilst fighting a four-hour fire in the basement of the Royal Palace Hotel…
Plaque unveiled for Manchester firefighter who died in the line of duty
A plaque was unveiled on 14 May for a Manchester firefighter who died in the line of duty, close to the anniversary of his passing. John Ogden, a father of two, sustained injuries falling from a fire engine, which was…
Firefighters’ union to expand fire contaminants and disease work
The Fire Brigades Union has agreed at its annual conference (12 May) to expand its work on the effects of fire contaminants – toxic substances produced by fires – on firefighters. In ongoing research with the University of Central Lancashire,…
Fire Brigades Union awards medals to refugee-saving firefighter and John McDonnell
The Fire Brigades Union has made two new solidarity awards at its annual conference, to operational firefighter and FBU member Brendan Woodhouse, who volunteers in saving refugees at sea, and to Member of Parliament and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell.…