Tag: Fire Brigades Union

Scrapping furniture safety regulations will cost dozens of lives a year, warns Fire Brigade Union

The Fire Brigades Union has warned that a government plan to deregulate furniture regulations could cost dozens of lives every year. 

As shoppers gathered for Boxing Day sales on sofas and other furniture, the union is warning that unless the ministers change course, decades of safety regulations could be lost. 

Under the current rules – introduced as the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 – manufacturers must submit furniture to independent testing on flammability. The regulations are estimated to have saved between 50 and 70 lives per year. 

But now the Westminster government has proposed scrapping these rules in favour of a voluntary regime. Consultation on the plans closed earlier this year and ministers are now considering proposals. 

The union warned that the government was using the pretext of dealing with lithium batteries and other hazards to launch a dangerous programme of deregulation. 

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “As members of the public shop for furniture in this year’s Boxing Day sales, they should be aware the UK government is planning to scrap crucial safety regulations on furniture. 

“The Westminster government wants to scrap mandatory flammability tests for furniture, opening the door for manufacturers to sell furniture that may be hazardous.

“Research shows that the current regulations save 50 to 70 lives every single year. The Fire Brigades Union fought for decades to put them in place. 

“The arrival of lithium batteries and other hazards points to the need for more regulation, not less. But the UK government is putting the interests of profit and big business over the safety of the rest of us.

“We had hoped that the Grenfell Tower disaster would make ministers wake up to the dangers of profit driven de-regulation. It seems they have learned nothing. 

“Ministers must think again.”

Red plaque unveiled for seven firefighters on 50th anniversary of Kilbirnie Street fire

A red plaque has been unveiled to commemorate seven firefighters who lost their lives in a fire in Glasgow, Scotland, 50 years ago.

Andrew Quinn, Alistair Crofts, Iain Bermingham, Allan Finlay, William Hooper, Duncan McMillan, and James Rook were responding to a warehouse fire on Kilbirnie Street when they were killed after a ceiling collapsed while trying to rescue Rook, who was trapped.

It was one of the highest losses of life for the UK fire and rescue service at a single incident in peacetime.

The plaque is part of a national Red Plaque Scheme run by the Fire Brigades Union and funded through the Firefighters 100 Lottery, aiming to commemorate firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The unveiling took place at the site of the fire on Kilbirnie Street on Sunday (28 August), three days after the 50 year anniversary of the incident.

Ben Selby (FBU Vice President), Colin Brown (FBU Executive Council Member for Scotland), Ross Haggart (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Chief Officer) and Bailie Norman MacLeod (Glasgow City Council) spoke at the unveiling and paid tribute to the sacrifice of the seven firefighters who died.

Seona Hart, FBU Scotland Regional Treasurer, said: “This incident was a tragedy which had a huge impact on firefighters and the community locally. The plaque will help us all remember the huge sacrifice these firefighters made keeping the public safe.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line, and their selfless work to protect others deserves to be remembered. The Red Plaque Scheme plays an important role for the loved ones of firefighters who have died in the line of duty, so that their sacrifices are not forgotten, as well as sharing their stories with the community.”

The Red Plaque Scheme is fully funded by proceeds from the weekly Firefighters 100 Lottery which has been able to create several Plaques each year since it began in 2017. Over time, as supporters of the Lottery continue to grow, more Red Plaques can be placed at the heart of communities affected by firefighter fatalities.

More information on the Red Plaque Scheme can be found at: 

www.firefighters100lottery.co.uk

🚒
❤️

Plaque unveiled for fallen firefighter 113 years after relatives found

A plaque to remember a fallen firefighter has been unveiled 113 years after he died in the line of duty, after a social media plea to find relatives was successful.

William Fraser was aged 28 and a father to a new-born baby when he lost his life fighting a large warehouse fire in Aberdeen, on March 2 1909. He was knocked off a ladder at the site by debris, falling 40 feet to the ground. He died 10 minutes after falling.

His great, great granddaughter came forward after recognising her relative’s story on a Facebook post by firefighter Ross Urquhart of Central Community Fire Station, who has helped organise the plaque, and Mr Fraser’s family were then involved with the unveiling of the plaque.

He is believed to be the last serving firefighter to be killed in the line of duty in Aberdeen.

PIC DEREK IRONSIDE / NEWSLINE MEDIA

The plaque is situated at Adelphi Court, where the fire took place, and was unveiled today.

The plaque unveiling was prefaced by a small service involving Mr Fraser’s family at Trinity Cemetery, followed by a procession involving fire engines including a 1915 model North East Scottish Fire Heritage Club engine, which travelled along Aberdeen main streets King Street and Union Street. It was led by a piper for its final 50 meters.

That procession route was close to that of Mr Fraser’s funeral procession, which according to the Aberdeen Journal was attended by thousands of people, bringing Aberdeen to a standstill, and featured a fire engine drawn by four black horses.

PIC DEREK IRONSIDE / NEWSLINE MEDIA

The plaque that was unveiled is a Red Plaque. The Red Plaque scheme aims to commemorate firefighters who died in the line of duty, and is administered by the Fire Brigades Union. This is the first Red Plaque in the area.

It reads “Honouring the bravery and sacrifice of William Fraser of Aberdeen Central Fire Station who gave his life in the line of duty at Adelphi Court, Aberdeen 2 March 1909”.

PIC DEREK IRONSIDE / NEWSLINE MEDIA

Ross Urquhart, the firefighter and FBU member who did the research for the plaque and found Mr Fraser’s descendants, said: “Red Plaques remind us of the extraordinary sacrifices that firefighters make, and we are glad to be able to honour the only firefighter to die in the line of duty in Aberdeen with one.

“As an Aberdeen firefighter today I wanted to make sure that William was remembered appropriately. I felt we owed him that.”

PIC DEREK IRONSIDE / NEWSLINE MEDIA

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “William Fraser died over a century ago but the day we should stop remembering his bravery and sacrifice will never come.

“No firefighter who dies in the line of duty should ever be forgotten, and William will not be. Every day members of the public will see this plaque and remember that he gave his life.“William left a new-born baby behind, and we are extremely glad that descendants of him were with us today as we unveil this plaque.”

At the unveiling itself there were words read on the family’s behalf by Mr Fraser’s great grandson, as well as speeches from Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack, Aberdeen City local senior official Chay Ewing and Aberdeen Lord Provost Barney Crockett. There was also be a minute’s silence, and wreath-laying.

The Red Plaque scheme is funded by the Firefighter100 lottery, which is also administered by the Fire Brigades Union and aims to raise money for good causes related to the fire and rescues service.

The lottery can be entered at www.firefighters100lottery.co.uk.

Firefighters urge public involvement in fireworks consultation

The Fire Brigades Union has welcomed the call from the MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee for groups and individuals to submit views on the proposed Scottish Government Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Bill. 

The published bill includes plans for :-

  • Limiting the dates to when fireworks can be sold in shops to a total of 37 days a year based around holidays and cultural events.
  • Ensuring anyone using the types of fireworks to be regulated would need special training, and a fireworks license.
  • The provision of control zones to be established by councils, where most types of fireworks could not be used.
  • The police would have new powers to search for and seize fireworks.

FBU Scottish Secretary Ian Sim said: “We welcome this call for evidence by the Criminal Justice committee. Every year the irresponsible use of fireworks causes fires, injuries and spreads fear in the community; it is our members who are put into dangerous situations trying to deal with the consequences. 

“This is a real opportunity to protect the public, their properties and the people who keep us safe. We urge all those who have been impacted by fireworks to submit their views to the consultation.”

Firefighters union calls for immediate talks over fire safety fears

The Fire Brigades Union has called for the Scottish Government to convene immediate multi-agency talks to try to find a solution to fire safety concerns in schools and the home.

The union has raised its concerns about the proposal to improve school classroom ventilation by undercutting school classroom doors which, in turn, could compromise the fire safety of classrooms putting students, staff and firefighters in danger.

The union also wants clarity over the newly rolled out Scottish Government legislation on interlinked fire alarms in the home, which became law on 1st February. 

Ian Sim, FBU Scotland Regional Secretary said: “The safety of school students and staff, our members and the general public is paramount. 

“At the moment there is too much uncertainty and mixed messaging over these two very important fire safety issues, in particular, the potential fire risk that comes from undercutting doors. The doors affected could potentially include fire doors. 

“We need clarity and certainty over these plans and the Scottish government must now convene immediate multi-agency talks to establish the safest way forward.”