| The London Fire Brigade will have five rapid response vehicles on the Olympic Park |
The London Fire Brigade has confirmed that the deadline for firefighters to sign contracts to work extra hours during the Olympics has passed and it has sufficient volunteers to fulfill all its requirements for providing fire cover on the Olympic Park during this summer’s Olympic Games.
The London Fire Brigade will have five rapid response vehicles on the Olympic Park, which will be equipped to respond to small incidents. In addition to this, a number of fire engines at stations surrounding the Park will be specially reserved in case of a bigger incident.
The Brigade had originally intended to recruit around 225 staff to work extra hours during the Games. However, the FBU in London banned its members from signing contracts to undertake the work. Despite this ban, Brigade managers issued contracts to staff who said they were interested in working on the Olympics.
Around 160 Brigade staff have now signed contracts and at least a further 160 firefighters will be working at fire stations surrounding the Olympic Park, on special reserve in case of a big incident.
Gary Reason, Director for Operational Resilience and Training at the London Fire Brigade, said:
“It’s disappointing that the London region of the FBU blocked its members from signing contracts to work extra hours during the Olympics. It has denied many firefighters the opportunity to earn extra money and be part of an amazing once in a lifetime opportunity. The union was given a clear deadline by which it needed to agree to the Olympics contracts and this has now passed.”
“The London Fire Brigade will still be providing a first class fire service to both the Olympic Park and the rest of London during the Games. I am extremely grateful to those staff who came forward and signed the Olympics contracts as this must have been a difficult decision. Our plans will ensure that Londoners and the millions of people visiting the capital during the Olympics are kept safe.”