Fire Brigades Union

We are the voice of firefighters and the fire and rescue service in the UK.

Promoted by the Fire Brigades Union, 171-173 Gray’s Inn Road, WC1X 8UE

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

🚨 This summer, firefighters attended a devastating wildfire in Stourbridge, West Midlands, that destroyed 19 homes.

Now, West Midlands FRS is proposing to cut frontline cover from 14 stations across:
📍 Birmingham
📍 Coventry
📍 Solihull
📍 Sandwell
📍 Walsall
📍 Wolverhampton

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

The FBU is calling on the government to recruit thousands more firefighters and introduce presumptive legislation, so firefighters get the recognition and compensation they deserve.

FBU general secretary Steve Wright speaks at Westminster inquiry into the state of the FRS.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Cuts to firefighters, fire stations and appliances put firefighters' health and safety at risk.

We've lost 12,000 firefighters since 2010. Crews are working longer hours under greater pressure than ever, making it harder to take proper breaks and follow vital decon procedures.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Full story: https://t.co/bNWWbn4x7e

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Between now and the Spending Review, the FBU will call for increased and sustained investment in the fire service.

Firefighters must have the funding and resources needed to respond to the full range of incidents they attend, from RTCs and house fires to flooding and wildfires.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Communities across the West Midlands deserve a fire and rescue service that is properly crewed, properly funded, and available 24/7.

West Midlands fire service must abandon plans to cut frontline cover. Cuts kill.

@liambyrnemp speaks against the closure of Ward End fire station

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

This wildfire season has exposed years of underfunding and cuts that have left control rooms understaffed and overstretched.

This International Control Room Week, we recognise the vital role of firefighters control in keeping the public safe.

[Steve Wright @UnionSteveW]

Good to meet @fbunational members at St Albans fire station this evening.

We had a really good discussion covering the national industrial and political landscape, the challenges facing firefighters and control staff, and the FBU’s current campaigns and priorities.

We also discussed the future direction of our union and the importance of solidarity, member engagement and collective action.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

The FBU oppose these plans. Have your say and sign the petition: https://t.co/o332dAsDJ5

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Wildfires devastated the West Midlands this summer.

West Midlands FRS now plans to cut frontline cover from 14 stations across the region.

These proposals would leave fire crews covering larger areas with fewer resources, putting firefighters and the public at risk.

Source: BBC - Wildfire: A Warning from the Midlands

[Steve Wright @UnionSteveW]

Last week in Wales, I visited Red Watch at Cardiff Central Fire Station.

Good discussion on the summer wildfire response, kit, PPE and decon, leave arrangements, establishment numbers and the impact of assisting other agencies.

Thanks to the watch for their time and for sharing their experiences.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Over the summer, firefighters control were struggling to take toilet breaks because there weren't enough staff to keep up with the calls.

FBU regional treasurer for Wales, Gemma Thomas, spoke to the Senedd this week about the urgent need for investment in FRS control rooms.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

🚨 Off the back of the wildfire summit that the FBU called for, the government has allocated £45 million to building wildfire resilience.

This includes providing specialist wildfire PPE, better land management and specialist equipment to assist in tackling the blazes.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Full story: https://t.co/LyOXAgJZXo

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

The devastating wildfires in Wales exposed the cost of years of underfunding.

Firefighters worked 12-hour shifts in unsuitable PPE, leading to heat exhaustion and injuries.

Firefighters control were overwhelmed, with call volumes up more than 200%. Even with crews responding from as far away as London, there weren’t enough firefighters or engines to attend every incident.

It's time the government commits to significant and sustained investment in the fire and rescue service, before more lives are put at risk.

[FBU Scotland @FBUScotland]

✊ FBU Women’s Committee – STUC Women’s Conference 2026

We’re all set up and ready for day one of the STUC Women’s Conference!

This year, we’ll be moving our motion on Protecting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service from Cuts, highlighting the importance of defending our vital public services, protecting firefighters and ensuring the safety of our communities.

We’re also proud to stand in solidarity with our sisters from across the trade union movement, supporting motions addressing the challenges facing women and girls in Scotland, in our workplaces and across the world.

Stronger together, united in solidarity and determined to make a difference! ✊💜

#STUCWomensConference #FBUWomen #TradeUnionWomen #Solidarity #ProtectOurFireService
@fbunational @FBUScotNorth @WestScotlandFBU @FbuEast @FBU_Scotland_EC @AngusSproul @JMcKScotRegSec @fire_scot

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

FBU executive council member for Wales, Gareth Tovey, speaking to the Senedd on wildfire resilience.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

🔥 This summer has exposed an unacceptable level of risk that firefighters and the public face.

Investment is about political choices. If a political choice is made not to properly fund the fire service, then that is a choice to continue putting lives at risk.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Yet firefighters risk their lives in some of the most dangerous conditions faced by any emergency service.

Read more here: https://t.co/6BbSpf2OUc

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

A survey of thousands of FBU members has laid bare the scale of the UK's wildfire resilience crisis.

Almost 50% said welfare facilities at wildfire incidents were inadequate.

69% said they feel significantly under-equipped to tackle wildfires.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

The FBU welcomes the EFRA report on wildfire resilience as a good start, but we're calling for thousands more firefighters to ensure safe and adequate response in the future.

[Fire Brigades Union @fbunational]

Politicians and the public must understand that aerial support and banning disposable BBQs alone will not make the UK wildfire resilient.

Firefighters need the resources, training and numbers to prevent and respond to these incidents properly.

@UnionSteveW on BBC One Breakfast.