challenge, there is incredible engineering going on. It is a privilege to see.” He is also involved with the operational and emergency planning for Bank London Underground development. “You need people with knowledge on both sides, who understand the needs of the infrastructure and risks which must be managed reasonably and proportionately, with proper plans in place to prevent incidents where possible and mitigate when things go wrong.”
As well as the day-to-day role, David has been working to develop guidance on large public events, that will become a national guide. This includes advice on that partnership working. Much of his work is in partnership with local partners such as the City of London Corporation “linking together our resources and knowledge.”
One of David’s areas of focus is to promote the protection of historic sites in the City of London. “This is part of LFB’s London Safety Plan and recognises the importance of heritage to the nation and world and to play our part in protecting it. They are so vulnerable: they were built to look spectacular – prevent and protect is part of our operation.”
Response to COVID-19
David explained how the LFB has supported the response to Covid-19: “We have over six hundred volunteers who have stepped up and
over three hundred have been used to drive ambulances and support health partners and the London Ambulance Service’s response. The LFB’s contribution has continued in the community by delivering medicines, care packages and food to vulnerable Londoners who are being shielded from COVID-19. We have helped to deliver over two million items of PPE to health workers.”
He continued: “Crews from across London have made over 17,000 facemasks to protect health professionals and we have maintained our fire and rescue cover standards across the whole of London during this time.”
Reasons to join the fire and rescue service
David wholeheartedly recommends the Fire and Rescue Service as a career for everyone. “One of the best things about the fire brigade is that it is a melting pot: the people that you meet and work with come from every conceivable background. I have worked with firefighters who were previously captains in the British Army, a trader from the City, aircraft engineers. In fact, our first grandmother has just got through selection and training! It is a really rewarding career that can take you to amazing places. You see some extraordinary stuff and genuinely do some good.”
Careers in the Fire Service
Everyone who joins starts as Firefighter and then has options to follow their career. There
are specialisms such as regulatory, investigations, technical recue, water rescue, fire rescue. You can work your way through the ranks or continue as a professional firefighter honing your skills in search and rescue and the use of a raft of sophisticated, technical equipment. “The skill level required to use all our equipment and its complexity for all foreseeable situations is a significant undertaking.”
If you wish, you can specialise in areas such as leadership. “Junior Officers, such as Leading Firefighters, respond when incidents are at their most dynamic: information is uncertain, hazards are unknown, and it is challenging to quantify the risks people are being exposed to. This experience is useful in many roles going forward.”
David concludes, “You do have to care about people and care about London. It is a principled service, working for the community to keep them safe. It is a satisfying job, even turning out at 3am, protecting people’s lives, homes and businesses: making a bad situation better for someone.”
Andrea Berkoff Editor, City Security magazine
> © CI TY S ECURI TY MAGAZ INE – SUMMER 2020 www. c i t y s e cu r i t ymag a z i n e . com
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