London Fire Brigade

Did you catch Sherlock on Good Morning Britain yesterday morning? 🔥 🐶 Sherlock, the London Fire Brigade's longest-serving investigation dog, has retired! Over the years, he's investigated countless incidents—including the Grenfell tragedy— earned the prestigious RSPCA bravery award, met the King and even wrote a book. We thank him for his service wish Sherlock a restful retirement.

Today, firefighters joined Transport for London, emergency service partners, survivors, and families of those lost to mark 50 years since the Moorgate Tube crash—the worst peacetime loss of life on the London Underground. On that tragic day, forty-three people lost their lives when a Northern City line train failed to stop and collided with the buffers at Moorgate station. Over six days, more than 1,300 firefighters, along with police, ambulance workers, doctors, and volunteers, worked in challenging conditions to carry out the rescue and recovery operation. This morning, crews from Shoreditch and Dowgate fire stations gathered at the Moorgate memorial for a service of remembrance. The names of those lost were read aloud, followed by a moment of silence and reflection, with floral tributes laid on behalf of the London Fire Brigade, Transport for London, and family members. Fifty years on, we remember the lives lost, the families affected, and the bravery of those who worked tirelessly in the face of immense tragedy.

The majority of fires related to e-bikes and e-scooter have happened in homes. These fires are often caused when charging batteries. We recommend that you take the time to read this important information from the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

Last week, Joe Wicks joined us at Paddington Fire Station as part of his UK workplace workout tour, where he visited workplaces from Scotland to London to workout and talk about fitness and mental health. Staff from across the Brigade, including Paddington’s Green Watch, joined the workout and chatted with Joe about balancing work and health. Joe then took a quick trip on one of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladder for the full fire station experience. Station Officer Kelly-Ann Marchant, who organised the event, said: "As members of London Fire Brigade, maintaining our mental health and physical fitness is essential given the demand of our roles. This event was an amazing opportunity for staff to come together and focus on overall wellbeing. It felt incredibly uplifting and it was such a positive experience to be a part of. Joe was really engaging and supportive throughout the workout and it was fantastic to hear him share some of his expertise with us." A huge thank you to Joe and his team for joining us, and a special mention to Paddington’s firefighters who accommodated the event, and then were swiftly called to attend the large fire at a nearby hotel.

Devastating video from West Midlands Fire Service on the tragedy an e-bike fire can cause. Rest in peace Natasha and Karlo, our thoughts are with their families.

Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters spent Valentine’s Day tackling a fire at a hotel on Chiltern Street in Marylebone. The fire started in a ground floor restaurant and spread to the roof of the four-storey hotel. The roof and third floor were destroyed, and parts of the second and ground floors were damaged by the fire. Two 32-metre turntable ladders from Paddington and Soho Fire Stations were used at the scene as water towers to help fight the fire from above, and our Drone Team were deployed to assist the Incident Commander with an aerial view of the fire. Our Control officers took the first of 13 calls at 1452 and deployed crews from Euston, Soho, Paddington, West Hampstead, Kensington, Chelsea, and surrounding fire stations, with the incident under control by 2007. The fire is believed to have been accidental and was caused by burning wood falling from a pizza oven and igniting the void between the basement and ground floor. Assistant Commissioner Paul McCourt, Incident Commander at the scene, said: "Crews worked incredibly hard for over eight hours in arduous conditions. Presented with a complex fire in a historically significant building, formerly Manchester Square Fire Station, firefighters successfully contained the fire to one property, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring properties. "Around 100 people evacuated the building before the Brigade arrived and thankfully there have been no reports of any injuries. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank our crews, Control Officers, fire safety officers and support staff who worked to resolve the incident." In total, over 63 fire engines, 23 special appliances and 25 officers attended the scene. A huge well done to our crews, Control Officers and support staff from all across the Brigade who worked incredibly hard to resolve this incident and bring the fire under control.

It's National Apprenticeship Week! The week celebrates the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers, and the wider economy. Since 2018, over 800 apprentices have completed their training with us, with more than 300 firefighter apprentices currently in training. Our firefighter apprentices undergo 15 weeks of intensive London Fire Brigade and Babcock training before joining their fire station watch, where they continue developing vital skills in teamwork, community engagement, and resilience. Group Commander for Firefighter Development, Joseph Kenny, highlights the power of apprenticeships in shaping careers and transforming lives: “Our apprentices bring diversity, dedication, and fresh perspectives to the Brigade. Their hard work is essential to keeping London safe, and we’re grateful for our experienced firefighters, officers, and trainers who support and mentor them.” We’re proud to be part of National Apprenticeship Week and to continue investing in the future of firefighting. Last year, we were ranked among the top 100 apprenticeship employers, and we remain committed to developing skilled professionals who will serve London for years to come.

Last weekend, our firefighters from Brixton Fire Station joined with our colleagues from London Ambulance Service, Metropolitan Police and the local community to deliver our second collaborative event, teaching CPR, Defibrillator use and immediate bleed mitigation. The Mother of Keelan Wong and the Angell Town community were instrumental in putting on this event, and beginning this collaborative programme, with 87 people joining us to learn these life-saving skills. We are also pleased to say that, thanks to funding from the Greater London Authority, we have been able to install a Community Defibrillator and Bleed Control Kit outside Brixton Fire Station for public use in an emergency. If needed, the instructions are clearly marked on the box. We hope to be able to put on more of these events and to install these kits on more of our stations, so keep your eyes peeled.

Two devastating fires involving an e-bike and e-scooter, less than 24 hours apart, have left homes gutted and tragically killed two dogs. On Monday morning, a charging e-scooter sparked a fire in West Hampstead. The fire spread quickly, destroying the ground floor and stairs, with eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters dispatched to put out the blaze. Thankfully, no people were hurt, but a dog sadly died at the scene. Then overnight, the battery pack on a second-hand converted e-bike caught fire at a house in Feltham. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were sent to the scene, but the fire had already spread widely. Four people escaped the property, with two taken to hospital. Sadly, whilst two dogs were rescued from the blaze, a third died. Both fires are believed to have been caused by the catastrophic failures of lithium batteries. Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Richard Field, said: “It cannot be underestimated the level of destruction each of these fires have caused with both homes completely damaged by fire and smoke. “E-bikes and e-scooters are a green and sustainable way to travel around our city. However, they can pose a significant fire risk, if not properly cared for, this is particularly true for the batteries used to power them which have become one of London's fastest-growing fire risks. “From our investigations, we know many of the fires we’ve attended have involved second-hand vehicles or a bike that was been modified using parts bought online. At this time, there is not the same level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters sold via online marketplaces or auction sites when compared to high street shops, so we can’t be confident that products meet the correct safety standard.”