Steve Wright- Fire Brigades Union General Secretary

22/08/2026

'Firefighters have been injured with some having to receive hospital treatment - all for putting their bodies on the line', the Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright writes

17/08/2026

Our control members are at the heart of the fire and rescue service, making critical decisions under immense pressure to keep the public safe.

They are speaking out about the impossible choices created by years of cuts and underfunding.

They deserve the resources and staffing needed to do their jobs properly and keep communities safe.

15/08/2026

I had a good conversation with Angela Rayner yesterday.

I raised the points the Fire Brigades Union has been making throughout the summer and before: we need investment in our fire and rescue services, including the commitment to 5,000 additional firefighters, to meet the growing risks our communities face.

We also discussed the emergency wildfire summit called for by the FBU, which the government has committed to. We need to use it to build resilience and ensure we are better prepared for wildfires, flooding and the extreme weather events firefighters are increasingly dealing with.

This summer’s fires are another reminder that this is about having the personnel and resources in place before disaster strikes - not after.

It is awful to see the devastation the fires across the West Midlands, and the country, have caused. It must have been terrifying for residents to see the fires take hold so quickly yesterday. I am very grateful to the firefighters, local resilience partners and all the first responders who evacuated people to safety – a number of firefighters were taken to hospital as a result of incidents yesterday, and I pay tribute to their bravery and commitment.

Our firefighters are working in incredibly difficult conditions and putting themselves at risk to keep others safe, and we will back them all the way. As the Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said, we will make sure our fire services have the resources they need from us and our support to deal with the unprecedented risks being driven by these heatwaves. As well support on the ground now, we will hold a summit bringing together fire chiefs, the National Fire Chiefs’ Council, the Fire Brigades Union and other key organisations to look at our future response.

To the residents affected, particularly those who lost their homes and their life’s possessions to fire – we will work with the mayor Richard Parker and local leaders to make sure you are supported.

Yesterday’s fires show just how devastating the impact of fires can be and how quickly they can take hold. I’d ask people to take extra care when they’re out enjoying themselves this weekend. Don’t risk it – BBQs, open fires, even litter such as cigarette ends or glass bottles are a fire risk at this time. Simple choices can help prevent wildfires before they start.

15/08/2026

14/08/2026

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.

13/08/2026

Around 60 firefighters are battling a huge grass fire in Stourbridge, with a...

13/08/2026

13/08/2026

11/08/2026

Since 2013, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has lost 1,239 firefighters.

Now, firefighters are working to exhaustion after tackling huge wildfires across the Cairngorms, as well as major structural fires in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Fire Brigades Union Scotland has written to the First Minister, calling for immediate investment and a strategy to rebuild resilience across the SFRS.