London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe's annual New Year message:
I hope you’ve all had a happy Christmas and most of all a safe one in these difficult times. The new year is an opportunity to look back at what has been achieved, and to look forward to where we all want to be. During my two years in charge of London Fire Brigade we’ve looked at every bit of what we do and have committed to transforming our Brigade into a world class organisation every Londoner can be proud of.
But we don’t want blind trust: We want to be judged by our actions and outcomes. The last year we’ve taken huge strides in making important changes and this will continue at a pace in 2022. The Brigade accepted every recommendation from the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and, over the past two years, we’ve completed 23 of the 29 recommendations that were for us directly or the emergency services more widely.
One key recommendation concerned how the Brigade tackles fires in high-rise buildings, especially in tower blocks that have significant fire safety failings. We’ve revised three important policies in this area and have now moved onto the live exercise phase, which allows our incident commanders, firefighters and control officers to practice these updated and improved policies in real settings. I’m extremely grateful to our local authority partners who have lent us their buildings so we can provide this vital, realistic training – and thanks to residents for their patience.
These new techniques were demonstrated in May, when a 19-story ACM-cladded building in New Providence Wharf caught fire and smoke started rapidly filling the block. This was an extremely serious incident and the actions of firefighters and control officers that day undoubtedly saved lives and helped prevent a tragedy.
We’ll continue to learn lessons and improve our practices, but I fear our drive to improve is not mirrored by building owners and managers. Well over 1,000 buildings in London have serious fire safety issues and now require immediate evacuation if there is a fire anywhere in the building and the number is continuing to increase as more buildings with problems are found. We need to see a change in culture alongside urgent remedial action by those responsible for fire safety in these buildings to reduce this number before another tragedy occurs.
As well as implementing new procedures, we’ve also improved the equipment our firefighters use to tackle the most challenging incidents we face. The UK’s first 64 metre ladder was put into service in November, with a further two being rolled out in the new year. These new vehicles will improve our ability to respond to a variety of incidents and what we can see by allowing us to reach greater heights. We also now have the ability to see the early stages of an incident through ‘999 Eye’: this system gives our control officers the ability to access the camera on callers’ mobile phones so they can transmit live video of the scene.
In 2022, we will introduce the UK’s first hybrid electric fire engine and new and improved fire boats on the River Thames. This shows our commitment to be at the forefront of new technology and innovation that delivers the best service possible to Londoners and improves the safety of our firefighters.
Currently, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is carrying out its second full inspection of the Brigade. I’m passionate about the need for scrutiny of the fire service. It encourages and allows us to improve as a sector. My aim is to run a fully transparent and open London Fire Brigade and I will be responsible for responding to and implementing the recommendations that the inspectorate will undoubtedly give us as a result of the inspection.
The need for transparency and openness has also been behind the introduction of a new Community Engagement Team within the Brigade, whose job it is to help us to reach out and connect with London’s marginalised or seldom heard groups within the communities we serve. The meetings I’ve had this year with groups representing Grenfell bereaved, survivors and residents have been a humbling and educational experience. The fact that the majority of those who lost their lives on the 14 June 2017 were either vulnerable in some way, or children, is something that makes me quite emotional to this day and pushes us all to be better. Society owes their families much more than it has given them so far.
I think we will be rightly judged by two key dates in 2022. The first will be 14 June 2022, the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower Fire. It will be a poignant, upsetting and emotional anniversary. At the front of our minds, as has been the case since the night of the fire, will be the 72 people who lost their lives, the survivors and all those affected. The fire was the most glaring indictment of failure from every single institution that should have kept those people safe. We will be quite rightly asked how London Fire Brigade has changed. Six months on from now we will be even further along the path to having improved the Brigade and giving our truly inspirational staff all the tools necessary to meet the challenges we face in the best city in the world.
Secondly, in November, we expect the Independent Review of Brigade Culture to report. I commissioned this earlier in the year and Nazir Afzal OBE is chairing it. I fully expect this to be a difficult read for me, the directors and everyone at London Fire Brigade. The review comes following the tragic death of Firefighter Jaden Matthew Francois-Esprit in August 2020. Jaden was a trainee firefighter on the LFB’s apprenticeship scheme. I am continually asked whether I really meant the comments I’ve made about the Brigade needing to face up to questions of racist, sexist or otherwise inappropriate behaviour. As a firefighter, I saw and heard things which could and should have been challenged. And this isn’t just at fire stations this is across every part of the Brigade. The time is right to say let’s stop and reflect on some of those behaviours, and I’m delighted Nazir is chairing this review.
In the past six weeks we’ve attended nine fires that have tragically taken the lives of 15 people. One fire death is too many and we all feel it more at this time of year. My thoughts are with all the families, friends and communities affected. There is no suggestion these incidents are linked but they are a reminder that fire kills. Our focus on community fire safety has seen fires reduce dramatically over the past 20 years but we must never be complacent. Londoner’s can get tailored fire safety advice and carry out our home fire safety checker. There is also a range of other advice on smoke alarms, cooking safety and advice on the safe use of candles.
We will overcome the challenges we face by the whole organisation pulling together for a common goal. It happens every day across the city and is why I’m proud to lead this organisation and to have such dedicated and hardworking members of staff serving the people of London.
I wish you all a very happy, healthy and safe new year!