London Fire Brigade News

LFB staff have been recognised in the New Year's Honours list London Fire Brigade staff have been recognised in the New Year's Honours list published recently. London Fire Brigade Group Manager Nigel Hall has been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal (QFSM) and Kelly Fairman has received the MBE for services to the Fire and Rescue Service. Nigel's award recognises his 30 years service with the Brigade and his instrumental role in setting up its flagship youth engagement...

London's firefighters have launched a Christmas fire safety campaign The aim of the campaign is to remind people to take care with candles and not to overload plug sockets this Christmas.London's firefighters have launched a Christmas fire safety campaign to remind people of the dangers of house fires over the festive season. The Brigade has just released new figures which show that electrical problems, such as overloaded plug sockets, and candles, cause more house...

Tower blocks or high rise buildings are designed to hold back fire and stop it from spreading Firefighters in London are specially trained to respond to fires in high rise buildings, and are regularly called out to such fires.Following the fire at Lakanal House in Camberwell this year, some reports in the media may have left you confused about what to do if a fire starts in your building. Tower blocks or high rise buildings are designed with walls, ceilings and doors that h...

The completion of both boroughs' 50th LIFE courses a passing out parade was held on 11 December at Dagenham A successful London Fire Brigade scheme that works with young people at risk of social exclusion to raise their self esteem has marked its 50th pass out parade in two boroughs. Since being introduced in Newham in December 2004, 800  young people have completed Local Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) courses there, while over 650 teenagers have completed the...

EU countries have now agreed to set a new "fire safer standard" for all cigarettes sold in the union Fires caused by smokers' materials are more likely than other domestic fires to cause death or serious injury. In London it is estimated that around 40 per cent of all fatalities in accidental house fires are caused by smoking materials, while nationally this figure is a third. Throughout 2007 the London Fire Brigade worked as part of the RIP coalition,(Reduced Ign...

LFB is dedicated to ensuring that fireworks are always stored, sold and used in a safe and responsible way Hundreds of people across Britain are injured in incidents involving fireworks each year and more than half of those injured are children.London Fire Brigade is dedicated to ensuring that fireworks are always stored, sold and used in a safe and responsible way, and they work with partner agencies across London in preparation for major events such as Guy Fawkes Night, Di...

  London Fire Brigade has welcomed new government guidance on sprinkler systems for new buildings   The London Fire Brigade has welcomed new government guidance for new buildings with sprinkler systems. The guidance would ensure that new and refurbished school buildings, including those built under the Building Schools for the Future programme, are likely to have sprinkler systems. They will be working to make sure that decision makers and the general public...

LFB campaign to ensure the safe use, signage and storage of acetylene cylinders The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has been working hard to reduce the disruption caused to London by incidents involving acetylene gas cylinders.The campaign is to ensure the safe use, signage and storage of acetylene cylinders and to create a greater awareness of the additional dangers they bring when they are involved in fires and other incidents. Alongside the awareness campaign, the Brigade...

LFB was judged to be ‘performing well' making it one of the highest scoring fire authorities in the country London Fire Brigade is performing well. That is the verdict of Government watchdog, the Audit Commission, in a report released Wednesday, 9 December. The assessment looks at two key areas - managing performance and use of resources. The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, which runs London Fire Brigade, was judged to be 'performing well' in both o...

Former LFEPA member and Bexley Councillor Colin Tandy unveiled a plaque in the new appliance bay The additional fire engine will significantly improve response times to fires in the borough, improving the safety of residents.Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, hosted celebrations on Friday 4 December, marking the major renovation work that has been performed on Sidcup fire station. Former LFEPA member and Bexley Co...

  London Mayor Boris Johnson and London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson visited Ilford fire station London Mayor Boris Johnson visited Ilford fire station to see the first completed building under the Mayor's building energy efficiency programme (BEEP). Ilford fire station has benefited from a range of carbon busting measures, as part of the Mayor's innovative programme to save energy from public buildings and save money off fuel bills. This includes: photovoltaic pan...

  The Fourth London Safety Plan includes new performance targets   The plan will now be subject to a twelve week consultation to collect the views of Londoners and key stakeholders. Members of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority have recently approved a range of proposals made by London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, paving the way for public consultation on the future of the capital's fire and rescue service. The London Fire and Emergency Plann...

London Fire Brigade has launched a consultation today for fourth London Safety Plan London Fire Brigade has launched a consultation on its draft London Safety Plan, which sets out how the Brigade will carry forward plans to modernise and improve the fire service in the capital. This is the fourth London Safety Plan, and it explains how the Brigade will build on its reputation as one of the world's leading fire and rescue services. The plan proposes a shake up of how s...

London Fire Brigade's new statistics show fatal fires increase during winter The London Fire Brigade has released new figures about accidental, fatal house fires. As the temperature drops and people spend more time at home using heaters, candles and cooking hot food, serious house fires increase - that's the stark message from London's firefighters this winter. The Brigade has released new figures about accidental, fatal house fires, which show that fatalities in acci...

London Fire Brigade's rapping firefighter, Stephen-remell Coleman Stephen-remell has written the track to tell people that London Fire Brigade is looking for new firefighters from all walks of life. "Follow me my people this is the way, sign your name for fire brigade open days. Oh what a rush, no job can touch, the job that I got this job is too much. We need more brothers and sisters let's go, don't matter if you're x or y chromosome". The line above is from a new hip...

New Look was fined £400,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of fire safety Sentencing of New Look took place at Southwark Crown Court on 25 November, 2009 after they pleaded guilty to two breaches of the RRO. The high street retailer New Look has been fined £400,000 and ordered to pay £136,052 in costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the "RRO"). It is the largest fine under the RRO. Lon...

City of Westminster Magistrates' Court fined the landlord for seven breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) A landlord has been ordered to pay over £20,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to breaches of fire safety legislation. City of Westminster Magistrates' Court fined Mohammed Khan, £10,150 for seven breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Mr Khan has managed the property since 1997. The prosecution followed a numbe...

London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, this week celebrating 30 years service with the London Fire Brigade Ron was awarded with the Queen's Fire Service Medal in 2005 and received a fire mark for his 30 years service from the Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA. London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, is celebrating thirty years service with the London Fire Brigade, but as Chief Fire Officer of the UK's largest fire...

More accidental, fatal house fires occur in the winter months, than at any other time of the year As the temperature drops and people spend more time at home using heaters, candles and cooking hot food, serious house fires increase - that's the stark message from London's firefighters this winter. The London Fire Brigade has released new figures about accidental, fatal house fires, which show that fatalities in accidental dwelling fires are falling year on year. However, the...

Carl Barlow has won an award for long service at the London Fire Brigade A London Fire Brigade firefighter, who once starred in the famous 'boy on a bike' Hovis advert in the 1970s, has been presented with a long service award for serving Londoners for 30 years. Carl Barlow, 50, who now earns his crust as a Crew Manager at Islington Fire Station, said: "I've thoroughly enjoyed my career as a firefighter. I love the variety - you never know what's going to happen f...

  Rita Dexter has been appointed Deputy Commissioner of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Rita Dexter, formerly Director of Corporate Services, has been appointed Deputy Commissioner of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. Rita joined the Fire Authority - which runs London Fire Brigade - in 2001, and her responsibilities have included legal and democratic services, communications, strategy and performance and information technology. Prior to working...

Manager John Carpenter, based at Dowgate fire station, has won a London Fire Brigade special achievement award The 'Potential Arson Target' database (PAT) aims to identify 'red hot' buildings across London which are at a high risk of being destroyed by arson. Watch Manager John Carpenter, based at Dowgate fire station, has won a London Fire Brigade special achievement award for developing the innovative new project. Buildings at risk include those that have been refused...

The London Fire Brigade is the only service to achieve Brigade Level 5 London Fire Brigade is leading the way in equality and diversity within the UK's fire and rescue services. External assessors recently awarded the London Fire Brigade the 'Brigade Level 5' of the Local Government Equality Standard -- the only fire service to have reached this level of achievement. The Equality Standard measures how public sector organisations such as councils, heal...

The London Fire Brigade celebrated staff's special achievements yesterday Some of London Fire Brigade's most dedicated and innovative staff were honoured yesterday (4 November), winning ‘Special Achievement Awards' at a ceremony held at Altitude in Millbank Tower.    Certificates were handed out for people and projects including:    Three firefighters from Hornchurch Fire Station (Marc Berridge, Richard Norris and Andrew Wright) for sa...

London Fire Brigade has won an award at the Mayor of London's Green Procurement Code Awards Brigade given award for focus on environmental issues London Fire Brigade has won an award and was highly commended in another category at the Mayor of London's prestigious Green Procurement Code Awards 2009. Open to London based organisations signed up to the Green Procurement Code, the awards took place on Monday 26 October at the Royal Institute of British Architects, recognising...

Finalists from the competition pose with trainers from London Fire Brigade’s LIFE team Teenagers were all graduates of Brigade's local intervention programme Young Londoners who demonstrated their firefighting skills, fitness and commitment in a London Fire Brigade competition have had their achievements recognised. The ten youngsters who competed in the ‘London Life Challenge' received special awards from London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson at a presentation...

Be safe during firework season Remember, remember, stay safe in November With 5 November fast approaching London Fire Brigade (LFB) is urging people to act safely and responsibly during the firework and bonfire season, and to remember to be wary at all time of the need for fire safety. The Brigade expects to be called to hundreds of incidents on and around Bonfire Night this year - ranging from out of control bonfires to fires caused by fireworks. Brand new figures releas...

An arrangement of traditional diya lamps set out in celebration of Diwali LFB offers advice for fire safety during the Festival of Lights London Fire Brigade is wishing a safe and happy Diwali to people across the capital. Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, is a key celebration in the Hindu calendar.This year Diwali begins on Saturday 17th October. To celebrate, people often light small earthenware oil lamps called diyas, as well as setting off fireworks. A spokesperson fo...

London Fire Brigade says "Don't drown in toxic smoke" Major new government fire safety campaign launches in London Drowning in the toxic smoke of a house fire is the risk you take if you don't have a working smoke alarm. That is the stark message being delivered by London Fire Brigade in support of the government's national "Don't drown in toxic smoke" advertising campaign launching today (October 5). After just two to three breaths of this toxic smoke, your lungs fill up...

The London Fire Brigade has run a LIFE course for young people with autism Course part of "Local Intervention Fire Education" programme  A successful London Fire Brigade scheme designed to improve the self-esteem of young people and promote fire safety has run a course for young people with autism. The specially adapted Local Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) course ran between 21-25 September at Dagenham Fire Station. Originally set up to improve community relatio...