Firefighters Come to Parliament about Fire Deaths

Over the last year 10 firefighters have lost their lives whilst tackling fires and rescuing members of the public. In the year before that 8 firefighters died in fires. These are significant increases in the number of firefighter deaths compared with the average of 2 or 3 a year in the previous decade.

The Fire Brigades Union has published today (Wednesday) an independent report into this rise in firefighter deaths. The report highlights the dropping of natonal fire service standards being set by the Government as one of the possible causes of this increase. The report also draws attention to concerns about the lack of provision of adequate training and resources to firefighters and the lack of an independent national body to investigate firefighter deaths and accidents.

I spoke to the FBU meeting and met firefighters as they came to lobby the Government for action. I have worked closely with the FBU since the time when we campaigned together to save Hayes Fire Station. I will be meeting Ministers to press for a constructive response to the FBU’s report. Members of the fire service put their lives at risk to secure our safety. The least we can do is ensure that they have the resources to do their job effectively and as safely as possible.

I interviewed Paul Wolstenhome from the FBU about the lobby.

submitted by John on 13 Nov 2008 at 02:07