Firefighters responded to widespread flooding across the UK caused by Storm Bert this November, performing rescues and evacuations in extreme conditions.
In the aftermath, the FBU wrote to home secretary Yvette Cooper calling on the government to make the whole of the UK more resilient to flooding by giving the fire and rescue service a statutory duty to respond to floods in England, to introduce national standards, and to deliver long-term investment to increase resilience.
Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have already implemented a duty for fire services to respond to flooding. This duty is needed to clarify responsibilities, and to obligate the government to provide investment for sufficient numbers of firefighters, training and suitable equipment to be deployed in response to flooding emergencies.
