T
he London Fire Brigade (LFB) has begun a
programme of events to mark its150th Anniversary.
The Brigade, England's busiest fire and rescue service and one of the largest firefighting organisations in the world, provides services across the whole of the Greater London area, serving the capital's 8.2 million residents, as well as those who work in and visit the city.
The LFB, then named the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, was formed in January 1866 after insurance companies told the Government they were unwilling to be responsible for London's fire protection due to escalating compensation costs.
The Celebrations
In January, Securitas UK announced a year-long partnership to support four of the Brigade's Anniversary celebrations. These kicked off when the Brigade joined the world-famous New Year's Day Parade through the streets of London. The event saw over 50 members of the LFB, ranging from fire cadets to retired firefighters, walking alongside an array of LFB vehicles, past and present, including a brand new 17-seater minibus, used by the Brigade's young fire cadets, which has been donated by Securitas UK.
Preparations are now in place for a major 'Safe in the City' event to be held on Saturday 12 August in London's Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park. The free public event is aimed at demonstrating the capabilities of a modern day fire service and will feature specialist team demonstrations including urban search and rescue, line rescue and water rescue.
The London Fire Brigade has a workforce of nearly 6,000 people, all of whom play an essential part in ensuring a modern and effective service, and the aim of the event is to showcase as much of the whole organisation as possible, demonstrating how different areas of the Brigade work together to make London a safer city.
Other planned Anniversary events include the Lord Mayor's Show and a gala dinner organised by the Brigade's official charity, the Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT).
LFB and Securitas UK
Securitas UK began working with the LFB in 2009 after the Civil Contingencies Act made it
8 © CI TY S ECURI TY MAGAZ INE – SUMME R 2016 www. c i t y s e cur i t yma ga z ine . com
Tips for a Safer Workplace
As an employer, you should make sure you and your staff know what to do to prevent a fire in the workplace and how to escape if a fire does break out. In October 2006 the Government introduced the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The changes were designed to make the law easier to comply with and understand. You also need to know about how your Brigade enforces legislation. The LFB has guidance notes on various fire safety at work topics so, if you have a specific enquiry in mind, please contact your local Fire Safety Regulation Team for advice.
Meanwhile:
London’s Fire Brigade celebrates 150 years of service
a statutory requirement for those responsible for protecting the UK to ensure robust contingency support was available. Since then, over 600 Securitas UK officers have been trained to provide Emergency Fire Crew Capability and the team has been called into action several times to protect the capital, as a result of industrial action.
As supporters of the Safe in the City event, Securitas UK will display its latest mobile CCTV capability - a vehicle designed specifically to provide security at events or in temporary locations - and members of the public will be invited on board for an interactive experience of the vehicle’s state-of- the-art cameras and display screens.
For more information on the Anniversary celebration events, please visit:
www.london-fire.gov.uk/150-events.asp
Saun Kennedy Director of Specialised Protective Services Securitas UK
www.securitas.uk.com
The picture shown in this article is the cover image of a special commemorative photobook to mark the 150th anniversary. These cost £12 and can be ordered at:
www.maryevans.com/lfb150.php #
• Automatic fire alarm systems help to keep you and your premises safe by providing an early warning of a possible fire and enabling people inside the building to evacuate. However, the vast majority of signals from automatic fire alarms are not actual fires as alarms can also react to things such as steam, cigarette smoke and aerosol sprays. False alarms can
cause disruption and expense so make sure you work with reputable alarm system maintainers who will be able to provide useful advice in how to reduce and manage false alarms
• There is a compelling case to be made for sprinklers in any commercial premises on the basis of loss of production or interruption to business. It is a recognised fact 85 per cent of small and medium businesses that suffer a serious fire either never recover or cease trading within 18 months. The London Fire Brigade promotes the installation of sprinklers as a proven means to reduce the impact of fire on people, property and the environment
• If you're concerned about a fire risk which may be a danger to life (for instance, a company or organisation disregarding fire safety practices) you should contact your local Fire Safety Regulation Team during normal office hours. Outside these hours, you should call 999. The LFB says these risks may have serious implications and any reporting will be dealt with quickly and in confidence.
For more information on workplace fire safety, please visit:
www.london-fire.gov.uk/SafetyAtWork.asp
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