About us Meet London Fire Brigade Who we are We are the largest and busiest fire and rescue service in England and Wales – and one of the most famous in the world. From Enfield to Croydon, Hillingdon to Havering, we work to keep London safe, day and night. What we do We rescue people, homes, businesses, streets – and cats. It’s not just fires we tackle. We’re there for floods, road collisions, terrorist attacks, building collapses, carbon monoxide leaks, and stuck lifts. As the challenges change,we adapt. Who we serve We are there for everyone that lives in, works in or visits London. Every individual, every family, every community. To each rescue, we bring courage, care and commitment. It’s what London needs, now and always. How we work Lifesaving is a system, not just a moment. Our brigade is made up of over 5,000 people –split into four functions. Firefighters – on the frontline, rescuing; Control, answering 999 calls; Fire Safety, reducing risk; and Head Office, ensuring the organisation runs smoothly. Our history This is our history, the history of London’s fire brigade. Over a 160-year period, we haveshifted gears, upgraded uniforms, and opened our doors to new people. We’ve respondedto challenges brought by war, terrorism, and climate change. Collaboration, hard-work,and dedication have fuelled us. 1866: An early brigade Variations of a fire service existed before 1866 – but not with the unifying purpose to serve and protect London. Originally, we were called the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. We first fought fires with hand-pumped engines. Bucket chains and horse-drawn engines kept us going. 1904: A name that stuck We found a name that felt like us: London Fire Brigade. We are entwined with our city: its past, present and future. 1914: Coping during war In the First World War, many firefighters enlisted in the British Army or Royal Navy, putting the Brigade under strain. War led to the end of horse-drawn engines, a push for mechanisation, and revealed – starkly – the importance of firefighters. The city couldn’t do without them. 1937: 999 introduced Ours is the world’s oldest emergency service number. When we started, people would run up to stations shouting: Fire! Fire! Some stations had high watchtowers to look out for smoke. That turned into telegraphs and on-street fire alarms. 999 transformed us for the better. 1938: Adapting in war For the Second World War, ’firefighter’ was a reserved occupation. It was complemented by the Auxiliary Fire Service, a major recruitment drive launched and changed who could be part of the Brigade. Recruits were young, old — and female. Women did not fight fires, but managed communication networks, watched for fires and acted as dispatch riders. 1955: Frank Bailey Frank Bailey was our first Black firefighter, part of the Brigade full-time. He was a barrier breaker, a champion for equality, and paved the way for a more diverse Brigade, truer to the community it serves. 1965: Gaining Greater London We welcomed Brigades across Greater London into our own. We also became more technically advanced and professional. New equipment like breathing apparatus meant firefighters could safely enter burning buildings. 1982: Sue Batten After reading the job ad a few times to check women weren’t actually barred from applying, Sue Batten became our first female firefighter. Sixty women had the same calling in the 1980s. A figure that has risen in every decade since. 1991: Digitalisation Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, we built out computerised mobilisation systems, real-time tracking, and advanced call handling. 2004: The Fire and Services Rescue Act This act increased the breadth of incidents we attend — including road collisions and false alarms. Our focus grew to education and prevention. We developed specialist teams to tackle risk, raise awareness, and investigate. 2005: Multi-agency collaboration After the devastation of the July 7 bombings, London Fire Brigade became increasingly involved in multi-agency responses. Working with our blue-light partners to protect the capital. Our firefighters now have marauding terror attack training, so that they know how to act safely in high-threat situations. 2017: Grenfell Tower Our thoughts remain with the 72 people who lost their lives, their families and communities. Grenfell was a formidable challenge for the Brigade. We’ve since had two inquiries, implemented changes, and are better prepared for high-rise fires. 2022: Cultural review Cultural challenges have long held the Brigade back. We sought to identify what the issues were, gain recommendations, and improve. We will look after our people better. And ensure that the Brigade’s values and behaviours are evident in all staff. 2023: Beyond fires It really isn’t just putting out fires anymore. Heatwaves, wildfires, and floods are now ours to tackle. E-bikes and high-rise fires are also on our list. 2026: 160 years We’ve come a long way since 1866. We intend to keep evolving with London. Serving every person, home, business, and street. For all the years to come. Skip Timeline What London Fire Brigade stands for Eligibility checklist+ We are here to help London be the safest global city. To do that, we must be – and improve – as a world-class fire and rescue service. Day in and day out, we will meet the challenges of making London a safer place to live, work and visit. For us, that means making sure that London has the lowest number of fires, the fewest injuries and deaths caused by fire. Qualifications+ Qualifications content and image pending for this section Qualification paragraph pending for this section which will look like this placeholder text Qualification paragraph pending for this section which will look like this placeholder text Qualification paragraph pending for this section which will look like this placeholder text Next line para can look like this Skills and behaviours+ We are here to help London be the safest global city. To do that, we must be – and improve – as a world-class fire and rescue service. Day in and day out, we will meet the challenges of making London a safer place to live, work and visit. For us, that means making sure that London has the lowest number of fires, the fewest injuries and deaths caused by fire.