Next generation of Scottish firefighters complete charity challenge

by Featured News

Seventy trainee firefighters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have ascended 3,408 metres – the combined total of the Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – in just one hour in a charity challenge to raise funds for The Fire Fighters Charity and the SFRS Family Support Trust.

They climbed using a 13.5m ladder pitched to the third floor of a building within the SFRS National Training Centre in Cambuslang, on August 6 and 12. The trainees, split into two groups, rose to the challenge in the annual charity ladder climb. The total funds raised currently stands at over £2,000.

Station Commander Thomas Mortimer said: “It’s really important for our recruits to get involved as much as they can and join in with fundraising events like this.

“They’ve all worked extremely hard in their training and it’s fantastic that they are able to give back to two vitally important charities.

“Many of our new trainees have not heard of both charities before, but it could be themselves and their families that utilise their services in the future.

“Both charities do great work for our firefighters so it’s important that we can do our bit in order to raise funds for the charities that support our crews and their loved ones.”

Fiona Reid, Community, Corporate and Events Fundraiser for The Fire Fighters Charity said: “It’s great to see the trainees coming back and fundraising for The Fire Fighters Charity after events such as this were paused during the pandemic.

“The trainees have raised over £2,000 split between The Fire Fighters Charity and the Family Support Trust. That really goes a long way in supporting both charities to do great things.

“We support fire and rescue service personnel across the UK with their physical, mental and social wellbeing and it’s been really tough over the pandemic. A lot of fundraising stopped but it’s great that these events have come back and hopefully the trainees will get into the mind of fundraising and when they get positioned on station, they’ll keep that going.”

Railway arch fire breaks out at Union Street, Southwark

by ActiveFeatured News

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire under the railway arches on Union Street Southwark earlier today.

A railway arch containing a number of vehicles was completely alight. Firefighters also investigated smoke coming from a platform at London Bridge Underground Station and confirmed this was coming from the fire on Union Street. There are currently no reports of any injuries.

Network Rail said it had also spread to a car park and a couple of electric cars were ablaze.

Southwark Street is closed between Southwark Bridge Road and Lavington Street whilst crews continue to work to make the scene safe. 

The Brigade was called at 0929 and the fire was under control by 1120. Fire crews from Dowgate, Whitechapel, Shoreditch, Shadwell and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation

Station Commander Wayne Johnson, who was at the scene, said: “The blaze was producing heavy smoke and those living or working in the local area were advised to keep their windows and doors closed. 

“Trains to and from London Bridge are affected and several buildings were evacuated.”

Safe and secure: ensuring firefighter safety and tool longevity

by Breaking NewsProducts
PAC’S versatile tool mounting solutions are helping departments to ensure firefighter safety and tool longevity

Firefighting rescue tools and hand tools can be large and awkward and if they are unmounted or unrestrained they can fall from a truck. An organised and mounted set of tools can reduce injuries to firefighters. A tool mount can also improve response time by enabling firefighters to find what they need quickly, as well as improving the time it takes to restock the truck and identify what is missing or what has not yet been put back in its spot and reduce the time to do an inventory check.

Properly mounted tools can increase the tool life because an unmounted tool rolling around in a compartment could be subject to extra wear and tear well beyond its normal use. Some of these tools are expensive and critical to have and so improving that tool life and keeping that tool in good working order.

Key considerations for choosing a mount

First and foremost you should know the weight and load rating of what you are trying to secure. A department should always consider the value of the tool they are securing. Performance Advantage Company’s (PAC) brackets are heavy duty and can withstand serious abuse. They are tested with the knowledge that they are going to see heavy use during their lifetime.

Also important is how quickly you can retrieve tools from the mount. You want to look at how well tool mounts can be visible in dark applications, how quickly and easily you can retrieve the product by releasing the straps and whether they are easy to grip in all situations and all weather conditions.

Finally, when you are considering a tool mount system, your department may acquire new tools for different situations and the compartment’s organisation system may need to be reconfigured. The tool mounting system must be able adapt because the tools themselves adapt. Different manufacturers have a different design and so the amount of space tools will take up in the truck will vary.

Unmounted tool problems

Injuries are the most serious issue when it comes to unmounted tools. We have had several customer interactions where there was a tool behind a closed door which fell on an unsuspecting firefighter at the scene of an emergency. These injuries strain the resources of the rescue team at the site.

One of the things tool mounts are designed to do is reduce the time it takes render aid. When a vehicle shows up with the team and with the equipment properly trained, one of the things they should have is their tool mounted because it improves response time as the time it takes to find what you need is reduced drastically. This is critical to get patients the aid that they need quickly and properly. Having unmounted tools can cause increased response time, meaning critical time is lost because firefighting teams cannot find what they are looking for. There could also be damage sustained to the tools from rolling around unfixed whilst in transit.

New to the market

Recent PAC products that have been really well received are our Mini Loks. These are smaller friction locking clamps than have been available before. They accommodate smaller hand tools, such as flashlights and small handle tools, than previously solutions could hold.

We have some new low profile locking brackets called the Super Flex line. They are for extinguishers and struts. We have an extinguisher mount kit that also works with oxygen bottles and two of our newer items are a shallow rectangular pocket kit for non-traditional rescue tools.

PAC has also just introduced a bucket mount. In the US, a 5-gallon bucket is a common item found in all industries from fire to farming. We have found that buckets are a widely used tool used to carry loose equipment such as absorbent material or salt. Buckets are a very useful tool but there were no mounts on the market for them, so we created one for vehicles. This mount can also hold traffic cones.

Regional differences

There are of course different types of vehicles and different types of equipment in different regions, not to mention different budgets. There are a wide variety of factors that go into tool mounting solution that would be selected, but in general PAC’s products are so versatile and adjustable that it really does not matter what industry or area you are in: the tools that you are going to carry are more than likely going to be able to be supported or held and secured by our versatile product line.

We are also mounting tools on a variety of non-traditional fire vehicles including motorcycles and fire boats. We have even worked with some departments in Asian countries that have turned transit vans into rescue vehicles or built their own fire trucks.

Finding solution for every situation

A lot of people think of us as a company that provides products to end users, or to a dealer network, but we actually are becoming more and more a resource to vehicle OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) where they need some type of a mount for the product that they make.

We were also recently approached by a customer who makes unique nozzles who needed to come up with a mount system as his nozzles were all different diameters and had different handles. He used our Jumbo Lock 1070 to hold his tools and developed a platform using our mount.

This article was originally published in the August edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Fire and Rescue New South Wales partners with St George Illawarra Dragons

by Featured News

Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) have announced a new partnership with the St George Illawarra Dragons as part of their Tactical Athlete Resilience Program (TARP) initiative.

TARP aims to deliver health and wellbeing support for FRNSW firefighters via elite sporting organisations granting access to physiotherapists, health services and facilities used by some of Australia’s top sportsmen and women.

In addition to the preventative readiness component – which focuses on keeping firefighters in form – TARP also includes rehabilitation services for firefighters who are injured on the job.

Along with the Dragons, FRNSW have partnered with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, St George Illawarra Dragons, NSW Swifts, GIANTS Netball and the Central Coast Mariners to deliver the program.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said: “The work undertaken by our firefighters to protect communities takes a toll, both physically and mentally, and through this program our men and women on the frontline will be able to benefit from the expertise and resources used in elite sport clubs across NSW.”

FRNSW commissioner Paul Baxter said TARP demonstrates the agency’s ongoing commitment to its workforce and expanding support networks: “By empowering our firefighters with elite training, treatment and rehabilitation options, we are boosting their resilience and improving return to work outcomes.

“FRNSW is always looking for ways to minimise the incidence and impacts of illness and injury.

“By bringing on board more clubs and their medical experts across more sporting codes, TARP is now accessible to more of our firefighters and able to better cater to diverse care needs.”

London Fire Brigade raise concerns over deliberate grass fires

by Breaking NewsSafety

London Fire Brigade has raised concerns that the number of deliberate fires could rise over the summer holidays amid a sustained dry spell and following a significant grass fire in Feltham last week believed to have been started deliberately.

The Brigade has said it is concerned that the number of deliberate grass fires could spike particularly given the period of hot weather London has seen which has made the ground tinder dry and is expected to continue.

Firefighters have already attended more than 425 deliberate grass and open land fires this year, including on Hatton Road in Feltham last week, which saw around six hectares of land damaged by the blaze.

Firefighters have taken action by sharing fire safety advice with young people and their families at community events over the summer. They are now asking parents and carers to help by speaking to their children about the dangers of setting fires in a bid to protect the capital’s parks and green spaces.

Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, said the Brigade are seeing too many fires being started deliberately: “The last few years has certainly shown us how important our parks and green spaces are, with many of us spending more time than ever outdoors with friends and loved ones, so we need Londoners to help look after them.

“Whilst the dry and sunny spells of weather will be great for families looking to spend time outside over the summer holidays, it also means that the risk of grass fires is going to increase as the ground becomes dryer. Talk to your children about how dangerous it is to play with fire, keep matches and lighters out of sight and if you’re worried about a child or young person who has set fires get in touch with our Firesetters Intervention Scheme (FIS).”

Amber alert

The MET office has issued an Amber Alert for extreme heat across southern parts of the UK. The hot spell will develop across parts of England and Wales later this week.

On what to expect the alert said:

  • Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat
  • The wider population are likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat related illnesses
  • Some changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required
  • An increased chance that some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail.
  • More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes, rivers and other beauty spots leading to an increased risk of water safety and fire-related incidents.
  • Some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays

Fire breaks out at Aintree University Hospital

by ActiveFeatured News

Fire crews have been called to a fire at Aintree University Hospital, Longmoor Lane, Aintree this morning. Crews were alerted at 4.34am and on scene at 4.40am.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue said crews found that a plant building on the roof of a three-storey building next to Accident & Emergency was involved in a fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were deployed to prevent escalation while liaising with staff to evacuate patients from the areas near to the fire.

Power was isolated to the electrical unit and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are fighting the fire with high pressure hose reels and CO2 extinguishers.

Patients were evacuated from the first and second floors with no reports of any casualties.

As of 8am, the number of fire engines on scene rose from six to eight as more than 30 firefighters continued to suppress the fire in a rooftop plant room.

 Police cordons are in place around the area of the incident. 

NFCC unveils pioneering Direct Entry Scheme for management positions

by Featured NewsProjects

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is set to launch a Direct Entry Scheme next month which will enable those with proven leadership skills, from a variety of sectors, to apply for Station Manager and Area Manager roles without needing to have fire service experience or without needing to have taken the traditional firefighter promotional route.

A recruitment campaign will begin in September through appointed recruitment experts at Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd. Those recruited to the roles will be expected to acquire, develop and demonstrate skills and expertise in management and command functions, as set out for their role in the nationally agreed applicable role maps. This development will be enhanced through a nationally designed, co-ordinated, and quality assured process.

The campaign marks the first time here has been a national, robust and quality assured direct entry programme. The main aim of the scheme is to create a different route to entry into the roles of station manager and area manager alongside the more traditional firefighter route, playing a part in diversifying senior management in fire and rescue services.

Ten fire and rescue services from across the UK have signed up to join the pioneering pilot to self-fund a direct entrant. Those services intending to adopt the scheme are Oxfordshire FRS, Staffordshire FRS, Shropshire FRS, East Sussex FRS, Avon FRS, Leicestershire FRS, Greater Manchester FRS, Royal Berkshire FRS, Hertfordshire FRS and North Wales FRS.

Direct Entry Project Executive Rod Hammerton said: “We hope that the scheme will draw new perspectives and experiences from the brightest and best who might not ordinarily have seen a career in the fire and rescue service as being open or attractive to them.

“Being a Fire Officer is a tough job at times, but it is a hugely rewarding one. I am excited to see who puts themselves forward for this fantastic opportunity.

“Direct entry isn’t new to fire and rescue services but launching the scheme in a way that creates a supportive cohort right across the country is. The response from services wishing to be “early adopters” has been overwhelming and I am confident we will be able to offer a compelling proposition to candidates from across the whole of the UK.”

Dawn Whittaker, Direct Entry Project Executive said: “Many of the leadership skills required to run a modern FRS are not dissimilar to those required in other sectors, with people, financial, partnership and commercial skills at the fore.

“By diversifying those in our more senior roles we can invest in the future of our sector, and those already involved in the scheme are doing just that.”

The project was launched to address some of the recommendations made in the HMICFRS State of Fire Report, which stated: “To provide the best possible response to the public, services need to be able to choose from the widest talent pool possible. That pool is currently restricted, with many people feeling excluded.”

The recent Government White Paper endorsed the work of the project, stating: “The NFCC Leadership hub is leading a project on direct entry schemes at Station and Area Manager level, as well as developing a coaching and talent-focused culture. This is a welcome development and should be supported by all services.”

Magirus announces ‘Experience The Future’ Roadshow tour

by Featured NewsProductsVehicles

Firefighting vehicle manufacturer Magirus has announced its “Experience The Future” Roadshow tour set to make stops across Europe later this year.

Magirus will be launching its innovative roadshow across Europe from September on. Under the motto “Experience The Future”, firefighters and interested trade visitors will have the opportunity to experience a cross-section of the highly innovative product portfolio.

In the months to follow, the roadshow will be coming to events in four countries. The initial start will be at the jubilee of the Magirus Lohr subsidiary in Premstätten near Graz in Austria from 01 to 03 September 2022. 

In the further course, the roadshow will stop at the following locations, among others:

  • 08. – 09.09.2022: Germany, Münster – Fire Expo
  • 21. – 24.09.2022: France, Nancy – Congrès National des Sapeurs-Pompiers
  • 07. – 09.10.2022: Italy, Montichiari – REAS Salone dell’Emergenza
  • 13. – 15.10.2022: Germany, Dresden – FLORIAN

Magirus said on the motivation behind the roadshow: “The world is in constant flux. In particular, the effects of climate change and trends such as urbanisation present modern societies with ever new challenges. These have a direct impact on fire-fighting and disaster control. Forest and vegetation fires, the growing number of natural disasters as well as constantly more complex situations require new technologies, new approaches and innovative solutions that perfectly adapt to these changing conditions.

“At Magirus, these are at the heart of the “Next Generation Firefighting” philosophy. This is expressed in a product portfolio which, in the interplay of networking, robotics and the continuous further development of the core range, particularly reflects Magirus’ traditional striving for practical, safely deployable and directly available innovations.

“Particularly in conjunction with the unconditional endeavor to offer the ideal solution for every context. For example, Magirus translates the latest developments in the field of mature alternative drive technology into practical vehicles that can be used reliably without compromise. Here, the company is convinced that a sensible and context-dependent interplay of different alternative drive technologies is required in order to meet the challenges adequately, safely and sustainably.

“Engine technology based on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is of central importance in this context. In combination with biogas, it enables completely climate-neutral operation of fire-fighting vehicles.”

On the road show, Magirus will present its new innovations an products including the new turntable ladder generation with SmartControl as well as digital systems such as FleetConnect and TacticNet.

Special highlights of the “Experience The Future” Roadshow will be the consistent expansion of robotics with new solutions as well as the presentation of groundbreaking innovations and new products – also in the field of personal protective equipment.

Streamlight launches its new and improved Survivor right-angle torch

by Breaking NewsProducts

Portable safety torches are an essential bit of kit for emergency response teams, and thanks to their consistent use in high risk environments they need to be both powerful and easy to use. Streamlight Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-performance flashlights for fire and rescue and industrial professionals, recently introduced its new Survivor X ATEX at Interschutz 2022.

Based in Eagleville, Pennsylvania, USA, Streamlight has been around for more than 45 years, developing tough, durable, long lasting flashlights designed to serve the specialised needs of fire safety professionals. Since 1973, the company has designed, manufactured and marketed high-performance flashlights, and today offers a broad array of lights, lanterns, weapon light/ laser sighting devices, and scene lighting solutions for professional law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications.

Its latest product is an updated version of its compact Survivor right-angle torch, now offering 250 lumens, new features for improved operation and multiple power options to suit user needs and budgets. The low-profile light is available as a Rechargeable System or in an economical Alkaline model and is pending approval for use in Zone 0 gas and Zone 20 dust atmospheres. Also from Streamlight is the Survivor X USB, a budget-friendly USB rechargeable option for use in Division 2 conditions.

As a provider of high-performance lighting, Streamlight has a reputation for making tough, ultra-bright flashlights and their advances in lighting technology have resulted in many specialised products for the fire market. Whether fighting fires, investigating fire scenes, signalling others in emergencies, or conducting rescues, Streamlight has been working to meet the needs of the fire industry by developing and manufacturing products built with precision and performance, featuring the latest technology, top tier performance, and durability that can be depended upon.

“The Survivor personal light, known the world over for its toughness, compact size and reliability, just got even better with the new Survivor X ATEX, which not only offers enhanced brightness and added features, but also multiple power options, including the Survivor X ATEX Alkaline model which provides a 25 percent cost savings on batteries, as well as the Survivor X USB which offers an economical USB rechargeable alternative and also accepts alkaline batteries,” says Streamlight Chief Revenue Officer Michael F. Dineen.

“Fire and rescue personnel, industrial firefighters, utility workers and others now have an even more powerful and versatile tool to use when operating in the trying conditions they often face.”

User-friendly design

The new torch features several improvements in response to user feedback, including:

  • An easy-to-operate battery door that provides a tight, dust-resistant seal.
  • A battery status indicator in the switch that turns red when the battery is nearing low voltage, flashes continuously when there is 15 minutes of battery life left and turns green when the battery is fully charged.
  • An improved charge cradle design that locks the light securely in place, while also featuring a quick release latch to permit one-handed “grab and go” removal, even with gloved hands. In addition to energising the new Survivor X ATEX, the new charger also charges all existing Survivor models.

The Survivor X ATEX features the latest power technology for extreme brightness and offers microprocessor-controlled high and low intensity and emergency flash modes. The Rechargeable System model operates on a 2.6Ahr Lithium-Ion battery pack which can be recharged up to 1,000 times. The Survivor X ATEX Alkaline uses three AA alkaline batteries.

On high, all models deliver 250 lumens and 50,000 candela over a beam distance of 447 meters. The torch’s custom optic produces a narrow beam, ideal for cutting through smoke, fog and mist, while also providing optimum peripheral illumination to aid in navigation. Operating run times for all three models range from 3.75 hours on high to 15 hours on low, with 8 hours on the flash setting. 

Rechargeable System models are available with AC and DC chargers. An indicator in the charger turns red when charging and green when the light is fully charged. A bank charger accessory that charges five units simultaneously is also available. An eight-unit SL-B26 Li-Ion USB battery bank charger that charges eight USB batteries simultaneously is available as an accessory for the Survivor X USB model.

The Survivor X ATEX features a low-profile, compact bezel designed to eliminate snagging when putting on equipment or other gear. The torch’s reinforced, built-in attachment D-ring and updated spring-loaded clip offer superior retention, ensuring the torch consistently hangs forward, and conveniently latches to belts and harnesses. Its rubber dome push-button translucent switch is easy to use, even with gloves, and its super-tough nylon housing provides exceptional durability.

All openings are O-ring sealed to resist moisture, including the torch’s unbreakable polycarbonate lens with silicone anti-scratch coating, assembled in a heavy-duty bezel. The torch has an IP67-rated design for dust-tight use and waterproof operation to 1 meter for 30 minutes; it also is impact resistance-tested to 2 meters. In addition to the Division 2 Survivor X USB, Streamlight also offers a Survivor X model that is Class 1, Division 1 rated.

This article was originally published in the August edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Industry responds to HMICFRS report

by Featured News

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has reported on 15 fire and rescue services across the country in its second phase of its second round of inspections and identified some encouraging improvements, but also said far more needs to be done to reduce risks to public safety.

HMICFRS found that:

  • The sector generally continues to be well prepared to respond to both routine and major emergency incidents.
  • There has been a positive shift in services prioritising fire protection, but some services (six out of 15) do not prioritise fire prevention activity enough.
  • There were problems relating to values and culture in half of the services inspected (eight out of 15) with some evidence of poor behaviours in parts of the service. In two services, the cultures were found to be toxic.
  • Fire and rescue staff continue to have confidence in their services’ wellbeing and health and safety arrangements.
  • Some services haven’t taken enough steps to promote and improve equality, diversity and inclusion.

The inspectorate issued six new causes of concern, while three causes of concern for services from its first round of inspections in 2018 and 2019 remain in place. These concerns relate to fire prevention, values and culture, and fairness and diversity.

Her Majesty’s Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Roy Wilsher said: “In 2021, fire and rescue services attended more than half a million incidents. I am in no doubt of the incredible courage firefighters show each and every day and their dedication to keeping the public safe, and I want to thank them and the other emergency staff who worked so hard last week to protect us all during record breaking temperatures.

“It is encouraging to see many services that received causes of concern in our first round of inspections have taken meaningful steps to improve and act on recommendations.

“We have continued to see a general positive shift in services prioritising protection. The sector needs to continue this focus so the public can experience long-term safety benefits. This must include sustained Government funding to make sure the number of competent fire protection staff continues to increase.

“However, our second full assessment of inspections has continued to identify issues that need urgent attention.

“It’s troubling that some services have failed to act on the causes of concern we issued in 2018 and 2019. We have also issued six new causes of concern, making a total of nine across seven of the 15 services inspected in this phase. Whilst this is fewer than our previous tranche of inspections, it is too many.

“Four of these causes of concern relate to values and culture, and we saw some worrying examples of poor behaviour during our inspections. In two services, these cultures were found to be toxic and that is not good enough. We continue to find too many services haven’t taken enough steps to promote and improve equality, diversity and inclusion. Worryingly, too many services don’t prioritise fire prevention activity enough – this is crucial for public safety.

“While I am calling on services to tackle these issues as a matter of urgency, more needs to be done externally too. I welcome the White Paper on fire reform, published earlier this year, which addressed three of our four outstanding national recommendations, including determining the role of services and firefighters, reviewing terms and conditions, and providing operational independence for Chief Fire Officers.

“I hope the way these proposals are implemented will address those three recommendations and match the Government’s original appetite for reforming the fire and rescue service so they can provide an even better service to the public.”

NFCC response

Mark Hardingham, NFCC Chair, responded: “In the last week, the value of FRS has been brought to the forefront with their excellent response to the UK-wide heatwave, often working in gruelling and relentless conditions to keep the public safe.   

“This highly professional and dedicated response undoubtedly saved lives, protected properties and increased public confidence as FRS were pushed to the limit. This comes just months after the FRS co-ordinated fire engine and equipment convoys to Ukraine, and which followed the sustained FRS response to the pandemic, with firefighters and staff taking on additional roles and duties supporting ambulance, local authority and other partners in local communities. ”

Hardingham concluded: “Culture and diversity are issues raised consistently by HMI and are challenges across many sectors. It is disappointing that progress hasn’t always been made at the pace that was intended. NFCC is committed to support FRS to be great places to work for every member of staff, and to be services that better reflect the communities they serve – and we will revisit our work in these areas.  

 “The report shows there is a lot to be proud of balanced with areas for improvement. Our response to the government’s White Paper on Fire Reform, and our partnership work with the national employers (England) and LGA to establish the ‘Fit for the Future’ model – referenced positively by HMI – set out our view on FRS reform and improvement, and the investment needed to realise this.”

London Fire Commissioner response

London Fire Commissioner, Andy Roe said: “I accept that we have a lot more to do and I am committed to driving forward the necessary changes. We are at the start of a long journey and fundamental change in large, complex organisations takes time.

“Change needs to start from within and it is my aim to ensure that staff feel comfortable and safe in their place of work. I will not tolerate any form of bullying or hostility towards anyone, it is my aim to eradicate this kind of behaviour from the Brigade.

“Our staff have been working tirelessly to improve our working practices and adopt new policies so that we can provide a better service to the communities of London.

“We have recently closed consultation on our new plan ‘Your London Fire Brigade’, which will continue to drive forward change and outline the service we aim to provide. It is important to me and my firefighters that we are providing our communities with the service they want from us and we have a clear plan in place to make sure we are trusted to serve and protect London and Londoners.”