The UK is decades behind other countries when it comes to protecting firefighters from exposure to toxic contaminants in smoke and fire. This is linked to our fight for 52 weeks of maternity leave - to protect mothers and babies from the health risks.

In 1991 a fire destroyed Knowsley Heights. Combustible rainscreen cladding was a key factor in the rapid spread. The incident was played down and covered up. Deregulation under Thatcher's government allowed unsafe council blocks to be built for greater profit.

Solidarity with the Birmingham bin workers on strike! Join the national demonstration this Saturday and march to Birmingham City Council chambers. ⏲️09:30, Unite the Union, 30 Jennens Road, Birmingham ✊

#WeRemember David Barnes and Neil Goldsmith who died in the line of duty responding to a fire in a large builders’ merchants store on 15 September 1977.

🔥 Cuts to the fire service kill. Across the UK, services are facing funding shortfalls of up to £800m, with more cuts on the way. Listen to the latest FBU podcast on cuts.

Last year, UK billionaires’ wealth grew by £35 million a day. Meanwhile, the fire service has been cut to the bone and is facing more cuts. It's time for the richest in society to invest in public services through a wealth tax.

While wildfire incidents hit record highs, the fire service faces devastating funding cuts. Station closures. firefighter posts cut. Lives at risk. 🎧 New FBU podcast episode exposes how 15 years of austerity is failing our communities when protection matters most. Listen now ⬇️

🚨 HIWFRS CFO forces through dangerous cuts after Fire Authority voted to DELAY them. The fire authority have said these cuts threaten lives. HIWFRS is already on the brink - we cannot afford to lose more firefighter posts. The FBU is urging the service to use the £23.9m reserves to plug the gap.

🔥The Met Office have confirmed 2025 has been the hottest summer on record. This comes as no surprise to firefighters who've seen a 663% increase in wildfires since last year. The FBU are calling on billionaires to pay for the climate damage they've created. #MakeThemPay

#WeRemember Michael ‘Sonny’ Liston, who lost his life in the line of duty on this day in 1994. Michael suffered fatal inhalation of phosphene gas, released by smouldering chemicals stored in the building. Fire service procedures for hazardous substances changed nationally because of the incident.

SUCCESS! After FBU members in Hampshire & Isle of Wight campaigned against £1.6m cuts, the Fire Authority has delayed the cuts, buying crucial time to secure funding. All eyes are now on local MPs and central government to step up and secure funding for HIWFRS.

Firefighters risk their lives to keep the public safe. However, 20+ years of a flat pay structure have left most firefighters stuck on the same rate with no progression. We're demanding: ✅ Fair pay progression ✅ End CPD postcode lottery ✅ Pay equality ✅ Proper investment

🚨 Hampshire and Isle of Wight (HIWFRS) are proposing £1.6m cuts. Meanwhile, HIWFRS... ❌ Has lost 1 in 4 firefighters since 2010 ❌ Reports rated the service inadequate in staffing HIWFRS hold £23.9m in reserves. The fire authority must defer the cuts and use reserves to plug the gap.

#WeRemember John Nichol, who died 49 years ago today at a fire on Upper English Street, Armagh. He was 19 years old.

53 years ago today, seven firefighters lost their lives battling the Kilbirnie Street warehouse fire in Glasgow. Firefighter James Rook became trapped inside the building. Six of his colleagues entered to rescue him, but before they could escape, a sudden flashover engulfed them in extreme heat.

Without lightweight wildfire PPE, firefighters face an increased risk of heatstroke, burns and exhaustion. Last week, firefighters from five services were sent to tackle the Holt Heath blaze without proper PPE. We need urgent investment so firefighters are equipped to tackle the climate emergency.

🚨 BREAKING | New cuts mean thousands of firefighter jobs could face the axe. The fire service has a shortfall equivalent to 2,300 firefighters. This is disgraceful - and cuts will cost lives. Time is running out for Labour to prove it is a real alternative to Tory austerity.

🚨NEW: FTSE 100 CEO pay hits another record high at £4.58m while ordinary workers struggle to pay rent and heat their homes. £4.58m = £12,548/day. A FTSE 100 CEO earns a firefighter's annual salary by Jan 3rd. The government must introduce a wealth tax to fund public services.

Firefighters in Merseyside responded to the Holt Heath fire in Dorset, exposing a critical lack of resources and resilience to major incidents. 14 years of austerity has lead to... 🚫 1 in 5 firefighter posts cut 🚫 Stations closed 🚫 Fire engines taken off the run

🚨The ongoing wildfire at Holt Heath has triggered a national emergency response with crews as far as Merseyside being sent to assist. This is the result of a critical lack of resources after 14 years of cuts. The fire service needs significant funding to rebuild resilience.

14 years of cuts to the fire service has left Hampshire & Isle of Wight in a state of crisis with worsening response times and inadequate access to resources. The CFO's response to this? A further £1.6 million in cuts. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Two FBU officials from every brigade will be meeting next week for a briefing on pay and a chance to discuss next steps on reforming pay structure. Make sure your brigade is represented!

Holt Heath and Arthur's Seat wildfires have revealed a ticking time bomb. The fire service needs immediate and substantial funding to rebuild resilience. Current resource strain is creating dangerous gaps in public protection and putting firefighters at risk.

In the latest episode of the FBU podcast, Tam McFarlane pays special tribute to fallen firefighters Jennie Logan and Martyn Sadler, echoing the minute of silence that delegates observed at this year's conference.

On Thursday we unveiled a new red plaque. On 7 August 1968 Frank Mallinson was seriously injured by an explosion on Norfolk street. He died in hospital eight days later at the age of 28. Frank lived in Sheffield with his wife and two children. 150 firefighters formed a guard of honour his funeral.

🔥 New FBU Podcast episode! Tam McFarlane speaks with conference delegates to break down this year's biggest debates on Labour affiliation, funding, and health & safety.

🎤 Podcast incoming ! Tomorrow, a new episode of the FBU Podcast will be released. National officer Tam McFarlane will be speaking to delegates on the main decisions and debates from the conference floor. 🔴 Labour affiliation 🔴 Health and safety 🔴 Funding

35 years ago today, Neville Stocker lost his life in the line of duty while tackling a crop fire in Kent. We remember Neville Stocker.

On this day in 1973 a devastating fire ripped through Summerland leisure centre in the Isle of Man, killing 50 people and seriously injuring a further 80. Highly flammable acrylic Oroglas windows, inadequate ventilation and locked fire doors lead to the high death toll.

At FBU conference, delegates voted to make health and safety a central priority, with the battle against PFAS 'forever chemicals' in firefighting foam and PPE at the forefront. These contaminants are linked to cancer, reproductive issues and other diseases.

Firefighters Martyn Sadler and Jennie Logan tragically lost their lives at the Bicester Motion fire on 15 May. Martyn’s funeral will take place on 31 July. In consultation with the fire service, we are calling on all FBU members to hold a visible minute of silence at 10.45am.

There were at least 211 e-scooter and e-bike fires last year, including five fatalities. Which is an 800% increase since 2020. Lithium-ion batteries can cause explosions and release flammable gases. Firefighters need proper training and resources to handle these emerging risks.

The recent riots in Epping are a stark reminder of the demonstrations outside refugee hotels last summer. FBU general secretary Steve Wright will be speaking at 'one year on from the riots'. This is an important moment to revisit lessons in how the far right exploit events to fuel racial violence.

Bedfordshire CFO failed to address a crisis in recruitment, leaving BFRS critically understaffed. 30 firefighters are needed to return to safe operating standards but the recruitment process will take 18 months, leaving firefighters and the public exposed to risk.

✊Solidarity with striking @BMAResidents doctors! Resident doctors are overworked and underpaid. The government has a responsibility to restore their pay after decades of austerity. Firefighters stand with NHS resident doctors.

Last week, FBU young members came together to learn from each other and organise. 🧵 Special thanks to our guest panel for coming to talk about their experience as young trade unionists⬇️

On this day in 1972 five London dockers were imprisoned for picketing, and freed after a mass upswell of solidarity from across the labour movement. 250,000 people took part in strike action, and the dockers were released.

Birmingham bin workers face pay cuts up to £8,000. FBU general secretary Steve Wright demands the Labour government force the council to halt cuts and compensate strikers for lost earnings.

Today #WeRemember Billy Faust and Adam Meere, who died in the line of duty on this day in 2004. A mural was unveiled in their honur in Whitechapel last year.

It's time for water to be brought back into public ownership. Firefighters need clean, high-pressure water to tackle fires safely - but private water companies have failed to deliver.

This week marks the FBU's first ever young members school! Firefighters and control workers aged 21-29 have come together to: 🔥 Share ideas and experiences 🔥 Learn from each other 🔥 Build solidarity and organise The next generation are actively building the future they want to see in the FRS

Every year, it gets hotter. Whatever the weather, firefighters will always be there to keep the public safe - but we need a plan to deal with the realities of climate change.

🚨 Water privatisation is failing firefighters and the public The FBU is backing calls for public ownership of water. Firefighters need clean, high-pressure water to keep the public safe.

Birmingham bin workers have taken over 100 days of strike action against pay cuts of £8,000 a year. FBU is one of 22 trade unions supporting their second Megapicket on 25 July. Strikers plan to close 5 depots 📍 Atlas 📍 Lifford Lane 📍 Perry Barr 📍 Veolia Incinerator 📍 Ryton site (Cov)

Water companies have taken more than £70bn in dividends, leaving the public with leaking pipes and polluted rivers. It's time for the government to nationalise water, to ensure firefighters have access to clean water supply to safely tackle fires.

Today #WeRemember Stephen Hunt who was killed in the line of duty on the 13th July 2013. Stephen was a team leader among 60 firefighters who attended a fire on Oldham Street, Manchester. The FBU launched an inquest and found that procedural failures and poor communication led to Stephen’s death.

Since 2010, firefighters have endured a real-terms pay cut of around 12%. Now, Whitehall proposes to raid public sector pensions to compensate for a decade of austerity. Firefighters have already seen their pension terms worsen, forcing them to work until 60. @unionstevew.bsky.social says:

Today #WeRemember David Stokoe and Terry Hunt, who lost their lives in the line of duty responding to the Gillender Street warehouse fire in London on 10 July 1991. The fire exposed serious deficiencies in the brigade's training and equipment, and sparked essential changes.

Adam Taylor has been elected as a National Officer of the Fire Brigades Union. Prior to his election, Adam was the executive council member for the East Midlands and the union's Vice President. He joined the fire service in 2008 in the West Midlands, before transferring to Leicestershire.

Proud to be fire! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 FBU members turned out in large numbers for London Pride last weekend. Pride is a protest ✊