@fbunational.bsky.social
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
Signed solidarity board outside Oxford fire station
Cuts to the fire service put communities at risk.
Today, FBU reps gathered in solidarity with Oxfordshire firefighters, and to set out a nationwide fight against cuts.
We are ready to take on these fights, ready to defend our members, and ready to win investment — not just resist decline.
🚨 Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority is pushing ahead with a consultation on dangerous cuts:
✂️ Eight fire stations
✂️ 96 firefighter posts
✂️ Eight fire engines
FBU members rallied yesterday to warn that these cuts will only lead to longer response times and reduced resilience to major incidents.
Last week has been the final bullet for Keir Starmer. FBU members can't wait till May for change.
FBU general secretary Steve Wright on BBC One LK, "we lost more firefighters last year under a Labour government. We will be talking about industrial action. Our members are calling for that."
A national campaign is coming, including potential industrial action.
FBU members are urged to attend the critical briefing on 11 Feb. Check your email for details.
🚨 The fire service is in crisis after years of underfunding.
Plans for further cuts threaten services in Oxfordshire, Scotland, Dorset and Wiltshire, and Buckinghamshire.
FBU members have had enough with sham consultations while firefighter jobs are axed and safety is compromised.
Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell addressed the executive council yesterday.
A strong relationship between the party and trade unions is essential to delivering real benefits and opportunities for FBU members.
Fleur Lombard was 21 years old when she died in the line of duty on 4th February 1996.
Today marks 30 years since her death, and a red plaque was unveiled in her honour at Kingswood fire station.
The tragedy shone a light on the need for women's PPE, an issue the FBU continues to campaign on.
Picture of steve, text reads: “Solidarity is a fundamental cornerstone of the trade union movement. Throughout history, employers have tried—and failed—to ban effective strikes and protests because they are powerful.” Strike Map logo, FBU logo.
Picture of steve, text reads: “By seeking this injunction, Birmingham City Council has confirmed it is more interested in crushing this strike than resolving it, and is showing disregard for its own workforce. As a Labour-affiliated union, we will not stand by while a Labour council abandons the principles it claims to represent. We will be calling on other Labour-affiliated unions to express their grave concern over how this dispute has been handled.” Strike Map logo, FBU logo.
Picture of steve, text reads: “It is now clear that the council and its commissioners are incapable of negotiating a settlement. That is why we are calling on the Prime Minister to step in and end this long-running dispute.”” Strike Map logo, FBU logo.
The @fbunational.bsky.social & Steve Wright have been behind the @unitetheunion.bsky.social Brum bin workers since day 1.
"Solidarity is a fundamental cornerstone of the trade union movement."
Read & share Steve's comment in today's press release 👇
#StrikeMap
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/52pV...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
In this FBU podcast, national officer Adam Taylor speaks with Anne Davies, the widow of firefighter Jeff Simpson.
Anne is fighting for a legal precedent that could see firefighters accessing regular health monitoring and compensation for occupational diseases.
Listen now 👇
Read their full stories.
Jeff Wornham and Michael Miller: www.fbu.org.uk/blog/13-year...
Malcom Kirton: redplaque.org.uk/plaque/malco...
On this day, #WeRemember three firefighters.
In 2005, Jeff Wornham and Michael Miller tragically lost their lives at the Harrow Court fire in Stevenage trying to save the life of Nathalie Close.
In 1992, Malcom Kirton died in the line of duty attending a fire at a carpet store in Lincolnshire.
Kevin, Stephen, and Daniel were tragically pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
The FBU conducted a full investigation and pushed for critical changes to minimum crew requirements, BA procedures, and real-fire training techniques.
Today #WeRemember Kevin Lane and Stephen Griffin.
30 years ago today, firefighters Kevin Lane and Stephen Griffin rescued 5-year-old Daniel Harford from a smoke filled house in Blaina.
They re-entered the property, wrongly believing another child was inside, and were caught in a backdraught that engulfed the house in flames.
SHUT IT DOWN 3-D
All sites, all day. Not a wheel turned.
Victory to the @unitetheunion.bsky.social Brum Bin workers.
Your move Prime Minister 🫵
#Megapicket #StrikeMap #Megapicket3D #Megapicket3 #Birmingham #BirminghamBinStrike #BrumBinStrike
Firefighters cannot protect the public properly if they are not given the tools and support to do so.
Seconds cost lives – and cutting frontline capacity is a choice to make our communities less safe.
If you're in the FBU, be there on 11th February.
Sign the petition against these cuts before the 10 Feb fire authority meeting: fbu.write.mp/campaigns/cu...
27.01.2026 17:35 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Dorset and Wiltshire fire service plans to cut eight on-call stations and 96 firefighter posts.
This comes less than a year after the Holt Heath wildfire, which called in crews from as far as Merseyside to respond.
Axing posts and closing stations puts lives and homes at risk.
Full story: www.fbu.org.uk/news/2026/01...
26.01.2026 17:30 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Over 500 firefighters and residents have signed the petition calling for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority to stop plans for cuts.
Proposals to remove seven fire engines and close two stations will increase response times and put firefighter and public safety at risk.
FBU rep Jim Rogers said, "What sort of society do we live in where the only way we can pay for decent wages for firemen is by cutting equipment which saves our lives?"
Full story here: www.fbu.org.uk/history/lime...
46 years ago today, leading firefighter Stephen Maynard lost his life fighting a ship fire at Limehouse Basin.
Budget cuts had moved specialist foam units from East Ham to Barking and closed another in Shoreditch entirely. Cuts were made to fund firefighters' new 42-hour week.
#WeRemember
Anne is now fighting for a legal precedent that could win firefighters the protection and compensation they deserve.
🎧 Listen now on all podcast platforms.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
🎤 New podcast alert!
In the latest FBU podcast episode, national officer Adam Taylor speaks with Anne Davies, widow of firefighter Jeff Simpson.
Jeff died from cancer in 2018 and became the first UK firefighter whose death was officially recorded as caused by the job.
Full story: www.fbu.org.uk/news/2026/01...
23.01.2026 13:12 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
🚨 NEW: Dorset and Wiltshire fire service has announced proposals to close eight stations:
📍Ramsbury
📍Bradford on Avon
📍Wilton
📍Mere
📍Cranborne
📍Hamworthy
📍Maiden Newton
📍Charmouth
The FBU is calling on the fire authority to reject these proposals and put public and firefighter safety first.
Take a stand for public ownership: actionnetwork.org/forms/water-...
22.01.2026 16:00 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
💧 Almost a third of our water bills are being used to pay dividends and bail private water companies out of debt.
What are we left with? Leaking pipes and polluted rivers.
It's time for water to be brought back into public ownership.
@compassoffice.bsky.social
More from FBU general secretary Steve Wright: www.fbu.org.uk/news/2026/01...
20.01.2026 17:18 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
💧 The Westminster government's white paper on water has failed to bring water back into public ownership.
Regulations have failed, and shareholders have extracted enormous profits while water bills have rocketed.
Public ownership is the only solution.
