
![]() |
Brian Sims
Editor |
Home> | Fire | >Fire and Rescue | >Firefighters make record number of rescues |
Firefighters make record number of rescues
08 December 2017
NEW RESEARCH published by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has found that firefighters rescued more members of the public than ever before during the period April 2016 to March 2017.

A record 43,000 people were rescued throughout the UK for the period, a 6% increase on the previous year. England saw 36,000 rescues, with 2,000 in Wales, 1,500 in Northern Ireland, and 3,500 in Scotland.
There were substantial increases in the number of rescues carried out by firefighters in Durham, Staffordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex and Norfolk.
The research found that the increase is largely due to an increase in non-fire rescues, such as flooding, hazardous chemical spillages and road traffic collisions – there were around ten times more rescues at non-fire incidents than fires. Over 39,000 rescues were carried out from non-fire incidents for the period to March 2017.
It is however recognised that firefighters continue to make a significant intervention in fires, with almost 4,000 people rescued from fires last year.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “These record rescue figures show the immense value of the work of firefighters, who perform a critical public service, and who now turn out for an increasingly varied range of rescues. The public recognise the value of this work. Our members are much appreciated by the communities they serve, where they tackle a range of hazards, protecting lives, homes and businesses.
“We have been collecting these important rescue figures and publishing them annually for more than ten years - the Westminster government stopped publishing fire rescue statistics at the turn of the century. The FBU wants government bodies to publish official, comprehensive statistics on all rescues, showing the value of firefighters to their communities.”
- National Cyber Force set to “transform” nation's cyber protection capabilities
- West Midlands firefighters ballot for strike action
- Gate Safe charity commemorates ten years of campaigning work
- Reading Fire Safety Matters supports individual Continuing Professional Development
- Graham Mackrell sentenced for Hillsborough role
- Nineteen Group launches International Security Week virtual event for security business sector
- Challenging nuisance 999 calls saves London Fire Brigade £800k
- Home Office to commission Fire Safety Order guidance documents
- Fire Industry Association draws attention to key points of Building Safety Bill
- barox RY-28 Series switch offers defence against Ripple20 cyber attacks
- State of the Union
- Government outlines fire service reforms
- From the editor
- Fire safety returns home to NEC Birmingham
- Blog for FSM website
- Cigarette fires on the rise
- Union outrage at 'obscene' pay rises
- State of the Union
- Fire safety on the agenda in Scotland
- Major fire at Worcester hub of home delivery firm