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.…
Plaque unveiled for Wimbledon firefighter who died in line of duty
A plaque to commemorate a Wimbledon firefighter who died in the line of duty was unveiled on 28 April, close to the anniversary of his death and close to where the incident took place. Anthony Marshall was just 26 years…
Grenfell Tower Inquiry: politicians ‘must take brunt of blame’ as they take to the stand
Politicians are set to appear as witnesses at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry for the first time on Wednesday, 30 March, amidst calls for the inquiry to highlight the role of governments in creating the system that in turn caused the…
Fire Brigades Union says key Grenfell witness ‘must be held responsible’ for his actions
Ken Knight’s testimony before the Grenfell Tower Inquiry must mark a sea change in holding key government advisers to account for the fire, the Fire Brigades Union has said. The union has demanded he is held responsible for his actions.…
Plaque for tragic firefighter unveiled on 30th anniversary
A new plaque has been unveiled to commemorate a firefighter who died trying to save a young woman and child. Malcolm Kirton was aged 38 when he died fighting a fire at a large furniture and carpet store in Gainsborough,…
Fire Brigades Union responds to Gove cladding announcement
The Fire Brigades Union has said that Michael Gove’s announcement on the building safety crisis still leaves residents ‘desperately short of where they need to be’, more than four years after Grenfell. Building safety crisis problems increase fire risk and therefore put…
Firefighters urged to protect themselves from toxic fire contaminants
Firefighters have been urged to protect themselves from toxic fire contaminants in response to research that found more than four times higher rates of cancer amongst firefighters who took part, relative to the general public.1 It is thought that toxic…
Six trade unions seek judicial review over pension discrimination
Six trade unions – the Fire Brigades Union, GMB, PCS, the Prison Officers Association, the Royal College of Nursing, and Unite – have applied to the High Court for judicial review in relation to pension changes. The six unions say…
Fire Brigades Union response to HMICFRS State of Fire report
The Fire Brigades Union has responded to the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service State of Fire and Rescue 2021 report. Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: ‘It is not clear…
Grenfell Inquiry: Grenfell driven by ‘agenda of deregulation’
The Fire Brigades Union lawyer for the inquiry has placed central importance on the ‘agenda of deregulation, privatisation and marketisation’ as causing the disaster. Martin Seaward said that an agenda ‘which encouraged companies to behave recklessly towards building safety’ was…
Forgotten firefighter remembered with plaque after 50 years
A plaque has been unveiled in memory of a fallen firefighter, after a fellow firefighter uncovered details of his life and passing nearly 50 years after he passed away. Wilfred McLaughlan was attending a fire in a factory when the…
Fire Brigades Union series of videos for COP26 released
The Fire Brigades Union has produced a series of videos to coincide with the COP26 summit, which are featured for you to watch below. Focusing on the unique relationship that firefighters have with our climate and environment, the videos feature…