About us Meet London Fire Brigade Who we are We’re the largest and busiest fire and rescue service in England and Wales, and one of the best known in the world. We work across London, around the clock, to keep the capital safe. And our responsibility doesn’t end at the city limits. When other fire and rescue services need us, we answer the call. What we do We focus on prevention and protection to reduce fire risks across the capital through education, regulation, and community engagement. We’re there for Londoners, whether that’s for fires, floods, road collisions, terrorist attacks, building collapses, carbon monoxide leaks, or stuck lifts. When you’re in need of rescue we answer the call. 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 not just a moment. Our Brigade is made up of over 5,000 people, split into three functions. Firefighters – on the frontline. Control – answering 999 calls. And our Professional Services, including Prevention and Protection – reducing risk and ensuring the organisation runs smoothly. Our history This is our history, the history of London’s fire Brigade. Over a 160-year period, we have shifted gears, upgraded uniforms, and opened our doors to new people. We’ve responded to 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. 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 We remember the 72 people who lost their lives, and our thoughts remain with the bereaved, survivors and everyone whose lives were changed forever by that night. LFB has accepted and implemented all the recommendations it received from the Grenfell Inquiry. We continue working with our partners across government and the fire and rescue sector to ensure the lessons of the Grenfell tragedy are learnt, and this continues to shape everything we do. 2023: Beyond fires As risks change, so do we. After 207 wildfires were recorded during the extreme heat of summer 2022, LFB introduced new equipment, updated procedures, and strengthened public safety campaigns. 2026: 160 years We’re marking 160 years since the Metropolitan Fire Brigade was formed – and we are still ‘trusted to serve and protect’ London. Skip What London Fire Brigade stands for Our Mission+ Our Mission 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. How we do it + How we do it The fire that never happens is the win. That’s why fire safety matters so much to us. We advise on safety in the built environment: buildings, roads, transport systems – through education and regulation. We engage with Londoners directly. We spread awareness on safety and wellbeing considerations in a range of activities, from roads to water, from the vulnerable to the next generation. Importantly, we help individuals and businesses to identify how they can help themselves – so that they can be safe and pass that on. We’re also proud to work in partnership with the trade unions, maintaining a constructive and collaborative relationship that supports our people, promotes open dialogue, and helps us deliver the best possible service to Londoners. Collective Effort+ Collective Effort Working towards London being the safest global city isn’t something the Brigade can do alone. We partner with other emergency services to contribute to: The lowest numbers of deaths and injuries from road traffic collisions. The highest survival rates in cardiac arrests in the world. The lowest levels of crime and disorder.