The Firefighters' Story
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2024
- The Firefighters’ Story: 100 years of the Fire Brigades Union traces the history of the FBU since its inception at the end of the First World War, and the contribution the union has made over ten decades to improve public and firefighter safety through its campaigning work.
Known as ‘tombstone legislation’ these improvements generally follow big fire incidents such as the Manchester Woolworths fire of 1979 which resulted in a ban on foam filled furniture. The Firefighters’ Story, narrated by actress Sue Johnson of The Royle Family fame, explores several major fires - such as the Glasgow Cheapside fire of 1960 in a whisky and tobacco warehouse in which 19 firefighters died - and their subsequent impact on safety.
The film, produced by In Focus Productions for the FBU to mark its centenary this year, uses archive footage throughout, including the Blitz which shows the incredible bravery of the firefighters Churchill called ‘Heroes with Dirty Faces’. More than 900 firefighters lost their lives during the war. The often forgotten contribution of the 88,000 women firefighters who worked on the frontline as well as in control rooms are depicted in the film as part of the huge recruitment of auxiliaries who helped the war effort
The film examines the appalling conditions and ‘continuous duty’ system early firefighters worked under, and the militaristic discipline, with pensions unheard of and holiday and sick pay almost non-existent. These firefighters, who lived in fire stations in cramped conditions with their families, were crying out for a union to represent them.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “As we reach the end of our first hundred years as a trade union and start our second, we wanted to mark it in a memorable way. This film will be something for both current and future generations to learn from, not just about the value of firefighters to communities over the last century, but the significant contribution FBU members have made to public safety, and of course the safety of its members.
“The FBU has never been solely concerned with the important issue of members’ pay and conditions - we have always had a wider role in society that is concerned with keeping citizens safe. We are extremely proud to have made such an impact on safety through our long history of campaigning and lobbying. And now, 100 years after we began, we have the Grenfell Tower atrocity to address. We will do our utmost to ensure that policies around social housing, building regulations and fire safety will be extensively improved so that people living in tower blocks are safe.”
My dad did 26 years in Tyne and Wear FireBrigade. He was a proud union man. The Fire Brigade did my dad proud at his funeral. They lined our path in to the funeral, they gave him a salute, They made us proud of them all.
Pip Kipling?
FBLadbroke Grove, you saved my daughter’s and my life, by rescuing us by fighting a fire in the 1980’s in W105LA. Thank you and Bless you.
As a retired FBU member of nearly 30 years, I am ashamed to say that I didn’t always realise and appreciate how important our magnificent trade union is/was and what they have done for us. We should all be extremely proud to be part of such a wonderful organisation
Excellent work. Proud to be a Retired Member of the FBU.
Great documentary of the history of the fire brigade!👨🏻🚒🚒🔥
I'm a second generation firefighter, fbu member and greatgrandson of a miner. Brilliant documentary and I am proud to be part of this great service
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS TO ALL THE GREAT MEN AND WOMEN FIREFIGHTERS ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!
What a moving and well presented video, shows just how uninformed and misguided the politicians are. Thank you for your service
There’s a few corrections. Cheapside Street - 14 Firefighters and 5 Members of the Glasgow Salvage Corps were killed. The two worst fires involved in multiple deaths of Firefighters post war were in Glasgow. Cheapside Street with 14 in 1960 and 7 i Kilbirnie Street in 1972.
The unofficial strike in Glasgow in 1973 when the military were brought in which lasted ten days was not supported by the FBU. The end product of that intervention was that the whole country came off the 48 + 8hrs working week . The Glasgow Firefighters remained on the 48 - wouldn’t accept the plus 8 hrs o/t hence the unofficial strike. The country kept the eight hours extra money and went down to 48 hrs. Glasgow went up with the eight hours extra money and the whole country also got a fiver a week. The FBU should be proud of this as they were much involved in the final settlements.
This is an absolutely incredible programme. I love the history. I am so grateful to those in the union that have fought for the rights I have today as a woman in the service. I will continue to fight against this Tory government for more improvements and what we deserve!!
Please fight to save the 8 fire stations threatened with closure in Devon & Somerset. Decision due in January
My dad did 30 years at stn 28 newton abbot I feel the pain and now they moved ISU from stn 20 Bovey Tracey to Martock in Somerset come on we need 2 ISU not 1
May God provide intellectual, physical and spiritual power and strength to the fire fighter department team-the fire fighter officers, vehicle maintenance group, call center team n overall team. May God empower and bless you all and ur family for the noble work of saving lives while risking one's life and forest fire safety through fire helicopters. Salute to every firefighter!! Amen!!
honestly the most interesting documentary i seen so far.
Great film and a great organising tool - lets get it shown to all the branches and workplaces in the UK!
The world can always use more heros
My dad was retained in Devon I feel the pain of every fireman fire fighter
48 hour week didn’t come into effect till 1963.
Brilliant
Brave even
Im related to Aylmer Firebrace❤
Where is the Jeff Naylor part?
Long live the Iron Lady!
Pip Pip Cheerio
Bob’s your uncle
Next thing on the agenda should be - get rid of the Tory Police Commissioners.
Second- cease recruiting from the street the unfortunate ‘potential’ leaders with no background of elementary firefighting experience .
My dad was ex devon retained fireman it will happen again with this government
Hello. I am creating a channel about firefighters ( Dia de Bombeiro/ Firefighters Day) and in my first video I will make a brief summary about the history of firefighters in the world. Am I a firefighter too. I would like to know if I can use some images from your video on my channel. I will leave the credits in writing in the comments. Thanks!!
Pip Pip Cheerio
Bob’s your Uncle
What is next the government wanting my British colleagues to go back to the old horse drawn steam powerd fire appliances ?
The government think they know every specialist area's of major lifesaving, police,fire service, and now going over heads of GPs, this is going to set up more ill feeling towards parliament next it be surgeon's
You can't mess with specialist fields, police,fire & GP services.
With mess in parliament dodgy dealings backhanded dealings in all area's,we put those people in power if parliament can't do their own jobs and constantly changing the goalposts and thinking they can save money over LIVES of this country's population they will come time people will snap putting money first over human safety and lives it will end up with people going down to parliament and causing issues, who will government rely on, police and fireservices,I hope they stand with the people say enough is enough.time big changes happen and soon.
This country has NO TRUST IN ANY POLITICAL PARTY,and the Lords
Drastic emergency changes are needed, and deaths will follow with the government taking control of our emergency services. Without them, who do we have 🧯🚒👩🚒👨🚒🔥🚓🚓👮♀️👮♂️🚓🚑🥼👩⚕️👨⚕️🏥🚁🏨💩💩💂💂♀️🤴👸Without these specialist fields, parliament no nothing about we are so screwed deaths & suicides will follow
You won’t find a bigger bunch of crybabies larger than the police & fire unions. Especially the Yanks across the pond. 🚒🚓😭😭
Always dated very athletic women. Not a single one can carry me unconscious down a fire escape
I do not support women on the fire line 🤷🏼♂️And whereas no one will support this comment there’s many who agree -just ask in private. I’m a 6 foot, 200 lb man. Only strong men can lug that size of larger in a timely manner
Not every man could carry you either, so you send the strongest one up the ladder, male or female. During WWII an RAF bomber crashed on take-off, fully loaded, and caught fire. The pilot was unconscious in the cockpit, but the RAF fire crew wouldn't go near the aircraft due to the possibility of the bombs exploding. An RAF female radio and radar operator ran to the aircraft - damn sight braver than the men - got in, pulled the man out of the aircraft and across the runway to a slit trench, where she got him down safely before the aircraft exploded. So, you wouldn't want HER on the fire line, despite her being braver than the men and well able to drag a heavy unconscious man out of an aircraft and across a runway? Pity there weren't a few women like her on that RAF fire crew, they might have actually done their job!
How to say you know nothing about firefighting tactics without saying you know nothing about firefighting tactics.