The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has raised concerns about the availability of fire engines across the capital, highlighting that between 20 and 30 fire engines are routinely unavailable each day due to crew shortages. On 1 November, this figure rose to 34 unavailable fire engines.

The unavailable appliances include specialist Fire and Rescue Units, Command Units and Turntable Ladders, all critical to responding to high-rise incidents, Urban Search and Rescue operations and hazardous materials emergencies.

In correspondence to London MPs, the FBU has stated that these figures reflect a Fire and Rescue Service operating under significant resource pressures. The Union has also expressed concern about proposals within the London Fire Brigade’s draft 2026-2027 budget, which includes £6 million in cuts and a further £12 million in unspecified savings.

According to the FBU, the draft budget proposes reductions to uniform allocations, cuts to investment in communication systems and delays to community risk management projects. These projects were designed to deliver improvements in response to lessons learned from the Grenfell Tower fire, the Manchester Arena attack and the independent culture review.

The Union has cautioned that further reductions to operational capacity could have implications for both firefighter safety and public protection.

Adam Shaw, regional treasurer for London at the Fire Brigades Union, observed: “This budget will determine whether London can rely on its Fire and Rescue Service when disaster strikes. If the London Fire Brigade cannot crew its fire engines or deliver its risk management plan, the Mayor of London and the Commissioner must act now.”

Gareth Cook, regional organiser for the Fire Brigades Union, commented: “It’s just over two years since the 2022 wildfire crisis when 39 fire engines were off the run during a major incident. We’re in exactly the same place now. The proposed austerity budget will only wreak further havoc on the Fire and Rescue Service. Londoners deserve better.”

Jon Lambe, regional secretary for London at the Fire Brigades Union, explained: “Senior leaders of the London Fire Brigade cannot claim to be keeping Londoners safe while 30 fire engines are unavailable due to cuts to firefighter crews. The Fire and Rescue Service is operating beyond safe limits. It’s overstretched and severely under-resourced.”

Lambe added: “On Bonfire Night, the Fire and Rescue Service received over 800 calls in London, yet we have fewer firefighters and resources to respond to increasing incidents due to years of cuts. We’re seeing millions of pounds being borrowed for property, while front line equipment faces being written off. This false economy will put the people of London at greater risk.”

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