London Fire Brigade News

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...

London Fire Brigade's Fire Safety Week included work with children in schools across the capital Fire Safety Week highlights importance of safety awareness to Londoners London Fire Brigade has successfully staged its first ever Fire Safety Week which highlighted the work it is doing to get its fire safety messages across to Londoners. Fire Safety Week was part of the Brigade's new Keep Your Community Safe & Sound fire safety campaign which is encouraging all Londoners...

A defibrillator - one of several items included in the IEC kits Emergency care packs will aid treatment of casualties Fire crews in Ealing are better prepared than ever to treat casualties at incidents, after being kitted out with life saving emergency care packs. The new gear, called "Immediate Emergency Care" equipment, will be carried in a specially designed backpack on all fire engines at Acton, Ealing, Northolt and Southall fire stations. London Fire Brigade's Borough...

Firefighter Janine Culley with her trophy, donated by The Worshipful Company of Firefighters London Fire Brigade officer won for record medal haul Firefighter Janine Culley has been named the Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association (FSSAA) sports personality of the year. Janine becomes only the second woman to win this prestigious award and she is also the first in the award's history to be presented with a trophy which has been donated by The Worshipful Company of F...

Members of the AFS tackling a fire on Oxford Street during World War II National event will highlight the contribution of AFS officers London Fire Brigade is hosting a national event to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS), which was mobilised at the outbreak of World War Two on 1st September 1939. The AFS played a vital role in protecting the country from fires and other emergencies for over 30 years. Its members worked tirelessly alongs...

Tim Ayub (second from left) initiated sending the London Fire Brigade engine to his family's village in Ghana Villagers in Ghana will use engine to transport drinking water, fight fires A fire engine normally more accustomed to racing to emergencies on London's streets is on its way to Africa after an ex-London Fire Brigade employee came up with a plan to use it in Ghana. Tim Ayub, who formerly worked at London Fire Brigade's training centre, contacted the Commissione...

London Fire Brigade hailed for its support of women in the fire service Award celebrates commitment to supporting female firefighters London Fire Brigade is the first organisation to a win a prestigious ‘Networking Women in the Fire Service Gold Award' for its "exceptional commitment" to supporting women in the fire service. Five female Brigade employees - past and present - were also presented with the highest individual award possible, for their work on behalf of wo...

LFB urges Londoners to perform pre-holiday fire safety checks LFB reminds Londoners to check homes for fire hazards before departure London Fire Brigade is reminding Londoners of the importance of protecting their homes from fire when leaving the capital for their well deserved summer break. By carrying out some simple checks before leaving your home, you may be able to avoid coming back to the devastation that fire can cause. The precautions advised (in...

A church organisation has been prosecuted for fire safety breaches Organisation admitted guilt on three contraventions of fire safey requirements A church organisation have been ordered to pay £30,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of fire safety legislation following a prosecution brought by the London Fire Brigade. Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International admitted guilt on three contraventions of the Regulatory Reform (Fi...

QinetiQ is now working to deliver a robot-based firefighting system in and around London Robots used to fight fires involving Acetylene cylinders Following a successful series of trials, QinetiQ is now working alongside key government partners to deliver a robot based service that is being used to help fight fires and support other major incidents - particularly if acetylene gas cylinders are involved which can become highly unstable - thereby protecting firefighters pl...

L to R: Sir Michael Craig-Cooper CBE, TD, DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London and Bernie Higgins London Fire Brigade applauds officer's lengthy career Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bernie Higgins has been presented with a long service award by London Fire Brigade for more than 30 years of service to the capital. Bernie is head of the team which manages the Brigade's specialist equipment used at major incidents in London and nationally. He joined the Brigade in Octob...

Sarah Brown, Gordon Brown and Prince Charles attend the unveiling of the 7/7 memorial Memorial to 7/7 bombing victims unveiled The Prime Minister has attended the unveiling of a memorial to the victims of the 7 July 2005 London bombings today. Gordon Brown and wife Sarah joined Prince Charles, senior figures from the emergency services and relatives of the victims at the ceremony in Hyde Park. Fifty-two people were killed and hundreds more injured when suicide bombers d...

London Fire Brigade has commented on the recent Camberwell fire LFB comments on fighting Camberwell fire Speaking about the London Fire Brigade's response to the Camberwell tower block fire, London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said today: "Firefighters were at the scene within minutes of being called. There was no delay in getting fire engines to the incident and firefighters took immediate action as soon as they arrived. Crews worked under very difficult and hazardous ci...

London Fire Brigade is hosting a breakfast to celebrate gay pride in the firefighting community London Fire Brigade celebrates its status as UK's top gay-friendly fire service Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, will be hosting London Fire Brigade's Pride breakfast at Soho Fire Station on Saturday 4 July. The Brigade, the UK's top gay friendly fire and rescue service according to Stonewall, and London's firefighters wil...

Nine fire stations across London are to be completely rebuilt Funding will provide complete rebuild for fire stations across the capital Nine ageing fire stations across London will be entirely rebuilt after the government gave the green light for a huge building programme to go ahead. The Private Finance Initiative project will see London Fire Brigade receive £57.4 million to make major improvements to nine of its stations. The new stations will replace fire station...

Phil Smith, Paul Roberts, and Steve Turek, with the signed concordat New intiative seeks to improve NHS facility fire safety NHS staff from hospitals and primary care trusts across London visited London Fire Brigade's training centre in Southwark on the 24th June, to discuss ways of making the capital's health venues safer. The ‘Working together in partnership - Fire Safety Workshop' featured presentations from a range of experts including Paul Roberts, the Depa...

London Fire Brigade promotes fire safety for children London Fire Brigade launches new child fire safety campaign Firefighters are urging Londoners to keep their community safe and sound by teaching children about the importance of fire safety. London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Community Safety Andy Barrett said, “Parents and carers can become fire safety champions by protecting their children from fire just by talking to them about what to d...

London Fire Brigade launches its new fire safety campaign: 'Keep Your Community Safe and Sound.' London Fire Brigade's new fire safety campaign has got underway with a celebrity launch Actor Cliff Parisi, who plays ‘Minty' in EastEnders, joined London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson and the Vice Chair of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Cllr Liaquat Ali to launch the ‘Keep Your Community Safe &Sound' campaign. The new campaign is encouraging all...