West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) staff, volunteers and visitors will fall silent for two minutes at 9am on 9 September in memory of emergency services friends and colleagues who have died as a result of their duties.
Annual Emergency Services Day
The tribute, coinciding with the start of the second annual Emergency Services Day (ESD), will be followed by the raising of ESD flags outside WMFS buildings. A series of events will also be taking place across the UK in the lead up to ESD, including a national festival of thanksgiving which this year is being held in Edinburgh.
The commemorations are coordinated by the National Emergency Services Memorial charity which is aiming to raise at least £3m to fund the first national 999 cenotaph. The WMFS ‘Roll of Honor’ contains the names of ten serving personnel who died during the course of their duties.
West Midlands Fire Service ‘Roll of Honor’
We are acutely mindful of the risks whenever we respond to any incident that threatens life or property"The Chief Fire Officer, Phil Loach, said: “The ten names on the West Midlands Fire Service roll of honor is our way of, every day, keeping alive the memory of colleagues who paid the ultimate price of being a firefighter. The risk of being confronted with life-threatening danger is an ever-present part of the role.
Phil adds, “The health and safety of our well-equipped crews is paramount. Firefighter safety is at the heart of our training and operational procedures. It enables us to be assertive when saving lives and reducing damage from fires and other incidents. We are acutely mindful of the risks whenever we respond to any incident that threatens life or property.”
Highlighting firefighters’ safety and security
He further said, “Emergency Services Day gives us an additional opportunity to remember those we have lost. It is also a day to celebrate the amazing work of all our colleagues and volunteers throughout our service, and I want to thank them and their families for their support.”
Councilor Greg Brackenridge, Chair of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, said “At 9am on the ninth day of the ninth month we will join together to remember all those we have lost from the emergency services family.
Remembering fire incident victims
Greg adds, “Emergency Services Day is also a time to pay tribute to our firefighters’ courage, compassion, skills and professionalism. The roles of modern-day firefighters and our support staff are incredibly varied. They deliver outstanding service, time and time again.”