Fire Brigades Union

Fire Brigades Union This is the official page of the Fire Brigades Union. We are the professional voice of firefighters and the fire and rescue service in the UK.

Promoted by the Fire Brigades Union, 171-173 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8UE The Fire Brigades Union is the democratic, professional voice of firefighters in the UK. We have a proud history, and since our foundation in 1918 have helped create and develop the modern fire and rescue service. The highest decision making body in the FBU is conference, attended by representatives from across the UK.

In between conferences, the union is administered by an Executive Council (EC). The EC is made up from a representative of every region and representatives of officers, control staff and retained firefighters. We aim to:
• Provide a leading, independent voice for firefighters that helps improves fire and rescue services
• Ensure the expertise and experience of our members is heard locally, nationally and internationally within government and beyond
• Protect the safety and interests of the public and our members, enabling them to enjoy a good quality of life, including by preventing cuts or damaging changes to fire and rescue services
• Improve the working conditions of our members and protect them from discrimination and unfair or illegal treatment by representing them in the workplace
• Help our members develop professionally by developing new and existing skills

21/08/2026

London control firefighters received over 2,000 calls in a single day this summer, stretching staff to breaking point as they scrambled to allocate resources.

Firefighter and public safety go hand in hand. When crews lack the staffing or resources to respond to fires quickly, lives are put at risk.

FBU London organiser Vicky Shaw on LBC News.

The record number of wildfires this summer has meant crews were being called out of London to respond to fires in Wales....
21/08/2026

The record number of wildfires this summer has meant crews were being called out of London to respond to fires in Wales.

FBU London regional secretary Jon Lamb said “we do not have enough firefighters, appliances, PPE or equipment to make Londoners as safe as possible."

We need urgent investment before more lives are put at risk.

20/08/2026

This wildfire season has laid bare years of chronic underfunding in the fire service.

Large scale incidents eat up resources fast, and control firefighters are managing it all with 25% fewer staff than in 2010.

The FBU is calling for 5,000 more firefighters, so our members aren't pushed to breaking point every time.

FBU national officer Adam Taylor on BBC Radio WM.

19/08/2026

Firefighters are attending major wildfire and flooding incidents without national standards in funding, crewing, or PPE.

It's time for the government to properly invest in UK fire and rescue services, starting with 5,000 more firefighters.

FBU general secretary Steve Wright on Channel 4 News.

firefighter Robin Gleeson, who died in the line of duty 44 years ago today.
19/08/2026

firefighter Robin Gleeson, who died in the line of duty 44 years ago today.

18/08/2026

Firefighters across Wales have been tackling 20 wildfires over the last few days. At one point, control had just a handful of fire engines left to send to other incidents.

Fire and rescue services are beyond breaking point. With flash flooding forecast in the coming weeks, firefighters won't get a chance to catch their breath.

EC member for Wales Gareth Tovey on BBC radio Wales.

17/08/2026

Firefighters control are having to make impossible decisions, with some services down to a single pump covering entire counties.

FBU control members are speaking out. This is what years of cuts and underfunding looks like in a control room.

15/08/2026

More than 1,000 wildfires have been recorded across the UK this year.

Firefighters control are facing an impossible dilemma. With no fire engines available, it's been a case of picking and choosing which incidents they send firefighters to.

Temporary army and aircraft support won't fix chronic underfunding. We need proper long-term investment in firefighters, resources, and training.

FBU general secretary Steve Wright on Channel 4 News.

The FBU have been sounding the alarm for years. We need proper and immediate investment in wildfire PPE, resources and t...
14/08/2026

The FBU have been sounding the alarm for years.

We need proper and immediate investment in wildfire PPE, resources and training for every fire and rescue service in the country.

We need 5,000 more firefighters now.

14/08/2026

Imagine fighting a wildfire under the blazing sun, with ground temperatures of 100°C, while wearing a ski jacket.

Dorset and Wiltshire firefighters are at risk of severe heat exhaustion, responding to the New Forest fire in their heavy, padded structural PPE.

We need national standards in wildfire PPE, equipment and training now.

Clips from BBC South and BBC Radio Solent.

Address

Ken Cameron House, 171-173 Gray’s Inn Road
London
WC1X8UE

Telephone

+442085411765

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