‘We Simply Do Not Have Enough Resources’: Firefighters Warn London Is Being Pushed to Breaking Point

Lives in the capital are could be put at risk due to a lack of firefighting resilience in London, firefighters have warned today.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in London has spoken out after a record number of fires in the city, alongside wildfires across the country this summer, have pushed the service to breaking point.

Jon Lambe, FBU London Regional Secretary, said:

“We do not have enough firefighters, fire appliances, PPE or adequate levels of firefighting equipment to make Londoners as safe as possible.

“London’s firefighters and fire engines are often removed from the capital by other Fire and Rescue Services who are themselves short on firefighting capacity, to assist in combating wildfires and other emergencies.

“This drain on our resources means poorer response times, and even when crews attend emergencies, there simply are not enough resources to fight fires effectively.”

The London FBU believes there must be an increase in central government funding to give the London Fire Brigade the firefighting capacity it needs.

Mr Lambe added:

“We want to see the government increase funding for the London Fire Brigade (LFB). But we also demand that LFB bosses manage the current situation better and make sure that London’s firefighting reserves are not depleted.

“If there is a failure to act, it is clear members of the public and firefighters will be put at risk due to increased response times and a lack of firefighting resources being made available.

“There can be no delay. The time for action in our capital has reached a critical point.”

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