West Midlands Fire Service News

Kentec Electronics, a global manufacturer of life-critical control systems, has announced the largest wireless installation to date across 37 high-rise towers owned and operated by Solihull Community Housing, providing residents with reliable, early warning fire detection and alarms. Since the incident in Grenfell Towers, the local authority in Solihull has made fire prevention and safety a priority, in order to better protect its residents in similar accommodation blocks. Kentec’s K-Mes...

A West Midlands mum has thanked Birmingham City Council for ensuring that a ‘life-saving’ sprinkler system had been installed in her tenth-floor flat, when a fire caused by an electric bike cut off her family’s only escape route out of the building. Even though 25 firefighters were mobilized and at the scene within three minutes – the sprinkler system had already brought the fire under control. Had they not been fitted, the outcome would have been very different. Import...

Over 100 firefighters from West Midlands Fire Service were called to the Smurfit Kappa recycling plant in Nechells, Birmingham on Sunday 12 June 2022. major blaze West Midlands Fire Service sent over 30 appliances to the scene of a major blaze where “there was around 8,000 tons of compressed cardboard on fire," according to Area Commander, Sam Burton. Firefighters are expected to be at the site for the next two days. The fire was declared a major incident and saw the A47 Heartlands...

Dräger has earned a place on the Emergency Response Equipment and Associated Services Framework agreement C00268, awarded by the NFCC Fire Commercial Transformation Program along with the contracting Authority West Midlands Fire Service. Thermal imaging camera equipment supplied by Dräger, a pioneer in the fields of safety and technology, will now be available to the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) through its Emergency Response Equipment (ERE) framework, with the company...

West Midlands Fire Service starts a 12-month trial of aerial drones to provide valuable footage to help with responding to fires and for fire investigations. The drones will be used to take video footage and high-resolution still images above incidents. Drones Drones can provide improve situational awareness for those in charge of incidents, helping decision-making and operational response. The six drones that WMFS will be using over the next year are M2ED drones that have a 30-minute flight...

The latest of West Midlands Fire Service’s large-scale training exercises involved more than 100 volunteers playing the roles of casualties and evacuees. West Midlands Fire Service joined forces with Coventry University and Coventry City Council, to provide a unique opportunity for students on a number of courses to put their learning into practice. Just after 10am on Friday 5 October, some 10 fire engines and more than 50 firefighters responded to the training scenario of a fire in the c...

Allegion UK, a specialist in fire safety and security products and solutions, last week took an impressive 500,000 steps towards raising £500 in aid of Fire Door Safety Week (FDSW) and The Fire Fighters Charity. Using two treadmills, 35 employees from the Allegion UK team worked as one to take part in their corporate challenge to walk, run, jog or dance 500,000 steps in four days. During the challenge, the team joined forces with the West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS), who visited the Alle...

A kitchen fire in a flat in Coppice House, a tower block in Birmingham caused a sprinkler activation which restricted fire damage to the oven grill and the plastic control knobs for the hob. There was smoke damage to the whole of the kitchen but water damage was minimal due to quick response time from West Midlands Fire Service, assessment of situation and their isolation of the sprinkler system. Only one appliance from WMFS was required due to the sprinkler activation.

Coventry’s new community fire station will be officially opened this weekend – and it’s throwing open its doors to the public! Following an opening ceremony for invited guests, the Radford Road site will be staging a road safety awareness day from 12 noon until 4 pm on Sunday (2 June), to coincide with the city’s two-day MotoFest. Visitors will be able to tour the new fire station and watch firefighters giving demonstrations of how they rescue people from car crashes and...

West Midlands Fire Service is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) National Sprinkler Week campaign, from 19 to 24 May. NFCC and the National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN) research into sprinkler systems’ effectiveness and reliability found that they operate on 94% of occasions and extinguish or contain the fire virtually every time. The evidence also demonstrated that in both converted and purpose-built flats, sprinklers are 100% effective in controlling fires. Ins...

Promoted by the Firefighters Memorial Trust, the Annual Service of Remembrance pays tribute and recognizes the commitment and dedication of all United Kingdom firefighters– and those serving in British overseas territories – particularly those who have died as a result of their duties while serving the community. Tribute to Lost firefighters Representatives from West Midland Fire Service will be attending the memorial event and laying a wreath, paying tribute to firefighters who ha...

Since January 2017, West Midlands firefighters have responded to 378 fires in wheelie bins. Of these, 295 (78 per cent) are believed to have been started deliberately. Group Commander Ben Diamond, of our Prevention team, said: “Setting a bin alight for kicks could seriously backfire. Any aerosols inside could explode, injuring anyone nearby. They could also be burnt or overcome by the combination of smoke and plastic fumes.” Serious Risk Of The Fire Spreading Deliberate and malici...

Fifty members of West Midlands Fire Service staff have embarked on apprenticeship courses in the past year. And the organization is hoping that a further 50 will embark on on-the-job training in the next 12 months. To mark National Apprenticeship Week, a number of West Midlands Fire Service’s partner training organizations joined them at their headquarters to share course details with staff interested in boosting their skills. From West Midlands Fire Service transport and engineering work...

The deaths of two Birmingham firefighters – one believed to be the only in the UK ever to have died trying to rescue a colleague – have been marked exactly 100 years on. Herbert Dyche, who was stationed in Highgate, perished trying to save Acting Station Officer Alfred Moon. Moon, based in Aston, had himself been trying to rescue two workmen following a major leak at Saltley Gas Works. Tragically, his efforts were in vain. Commemorating fire fighters lost in rescue operations On 2...

More than a third of reported accidental fires, started by candles in the home, result in death or injury. WMFS is urging people to ‘snuff out the risk’ this Candle Fire Safety Week (15-21 Oct) and beyond. Testing Alarms Regularly Candles are a welcoming sight in many homes, giving an atmospheric glow to cold winter nights" Pete Wilson, WMFS’ Head of Community Safety, said: “Candles are a welcoming sight in many homes, giving an atmospheric glow to cold winter nights....

A team of West Midlands Fire Service firefighters have been crowned national champs in the use of breathing apparatus. Top honors went to Hay Mills Blue Watch at the 2018 National BA Challenge at the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire. Colleagues from Highgate Blue Watch also achieved fourth place overall, in a total field of 28. The event attracted teams of five firefighters from across the UK. Each was faced with the scenario of a property fire in which people were believed trapped. They...

WMFS teams celebrated strong performances in this year’s national rescue challenges. Hosted in Cardiff Bay by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, firefighters from across the country took part in the UK Rescue Organisation (UKRO) event. The two-day showcase saw dozens of teams competing in extrication, trauma, rope, water and urban search and rescue (USAR) events. Members of our Technical Rescue Unit came second overall in the rope rescue challenge. Honing The Skills Of Firefighters Th...

This year saw fire and rescue teams from across the UK competing in the West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) Extrication and Trauma Challenges, which was held for the second year running at the Emergency Services Show, NEC, Birmingham. The two-day event which is split into trauma scenarios and extrication scenarios tested firefighters skills at first aid and trauma care, road traffic accident extrication, casualty care and more. As always, a high standard of skills was demonstrated by all the team...

As per a new law aimed at better safeguarding fire rescue and emergency services personal, offenders who assault or attack emergency workers are to face longer jail terms. The maximum jail term for assaulting an emergency worker, including fire service personnel, will double from six to 12 months, once the new law goes into effect. An episode of the West Midlands Fire Service’s (WMFS) TV series, ‘Into the Fire’, shows one of the WMFS crew members being intimidated by a gang....

The West Midlands Fire Service has announced that the service’s firefighters have won the Emergency Services category in the annual ‘Pride of Britain’ awards! WMFS firefighters recognized The accolade, sponsored by ITV’s ‘This Morning’ program, recognizes the response of firefighters from Highgate Community Fire Station and the Technical Rescue Unit to a road traffic collision in which a driver was fully impaled on a metal railing.  Some of WMFS firefi...

West Midlands Fire Service's ICT team will be showcasing the next generation of their award-winning workflow software at this year’s Emergency Services Show. They’ve developed the ‘Tymly’ platform to meet the increasingly complex data challenges facing today’s emergency services. For any organization, having the ability to access relevant, accurate and timely data from any location is important. In an emergency context it can also often be life-critical. Instead of...

The West Midlands Fire Service is committed to attracting more firefighters who are women or from minority backgrounds has been praised by the Government. Only 5.2% of firefighters in England are women, and just 3.9% from a black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds (BAME). But, since we adopted a new recruitment approach in January, 33% of our successful candidates have been women and 32% BAME. By 2020/2021, the fire service is aiming for 60% of new starters to be women and for 35% to be from...

ASSA ABLOY UK is holding a dedicated event at West Midlands Fire Service’s headquarters in Birmingham to help raise the bar on standards of quality for fire door safety Over three million fire doors are installed every year in the UK, yet incorrect specification, poor installation and a lack of maintenance is still a common occurrence. In light of this, and to coincide with Fire Door Safety Week, ASSA ABLOY UK is holding a dedicated event at West Midlands Fire Service&r...

Hay Mills Community Fire Station’s new partnership with a West Midlands medical practice is set to boost vulnerable patients’ fire safety. Firefighters from Hay Mills Community Fire Station are teaming up with Hall Green Health (HGH) to identify practice clients who would benefit from one of our free Safe and Well visits. give fire safety advice Patients who have recently been discharged from hospital or have hearing difficulties, for example, could be referred to Hay Mills Communi...

Members of our staff who have completed 20 years’ exemplary service were honored at a ceremony at our headquarters. Uniformed and non-uniformed staff were presented with Long Service and Conduct Medals and awards by Dr Beverly Lindsay, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands and Phil Hales, our Deputy Chief Fire Officer. DCFO Hales said: “Completing 20 years’ loyal and devoted service is a great achievement in the careers of our firefighters and support staff. The ceremony i...

Firefighters from Haden Cross Community Fire Station are set to climb Mount Everest – in a day! But there’ll be no trip to the Himalayas. Instead, the intrepid group will be staging their 8,848m-climb in Dudley, under cover of the intu Merry Hill shopping center. offering rehabilitation And psychological support Firefighters work hard to serve the communities they protect" Firefighter Matt Crawford, who will be joining this Saturday’s expedition in aid of The Fire Fighters C...

Support group for people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has received a £500 boost, thanks to one of West Midlands Fire Service’s contractors. Back in June 2016, West Midlands Fire Service announced their support for ‘TWIRL’ (The Wolverhampton Integrated Respiratory Lifestyle) project, which helps COPD sufferers to cope with their condition, to socialize and to have access to advice and support from healthcare professionals. The group has now rec...

The event aimed to raise awareness about how certified fire doors can prevent life-changing injuries More than 60 prominent facilities managers, architects and door hardware installers attended a free event hosted by ASSA ABLOY UK, the global leader in door opening solutions, to discuss fire door safety at West Midlands Fire Service’s headquarters in Birmingham. The event – ‘It’s Time To Talk About Fire Doors’ – featured talks from Steve Sh...

The Education Day aims to promote the role of fire doors in fire safety Midland Building Products Ltd (MBP) and Fire & Acoustic Seals Ltd are hosting a customer ‘Education Day’ on 20th September to promote the very important role of fire doors in fire safety. The day will put fire doors firmly ‘in focus’, and guest speakers will be delivering a series of CPD-Accredited workshops on topics such as fire and smoke seals; installation and inspecti...

Emergency and rescue vehicles of virtually every type will be on display throughout the indoor and outdoor exhibition areas Vehicles and vehicle equipment for the Emergency Services and allied organisations will be prominent among the displays of more than 400 organisations exhibiting at The Emergency Services Show, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 20 and 21 September. The UK’s biggest emergency services event, the show is the perfect place to research the latest p...