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
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🚨 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
ALT "These proposals would put our members under greater pressure, leave fire crews covering larger areas with fewer resources, and put the public at risk. “This is not acceptable and the FBU will oppose the plans.”
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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.
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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
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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.
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Fire Brigades Union retweeted
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.
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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
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The FBU oppose these plans. Have your say and sign the petition: c.org/N9HRdf4d8d
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Fire Brigades Union retweeted
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.
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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.
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🚨 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.
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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.
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RT @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 Confere…
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🔥 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.
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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.
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Yet firefighters risk their lives in some of the most dangerous conditions faced by any emergency service.
Read more here: fbu.org.uk/news/2026/10/21/f…
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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.
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