Reading West MP, Martin Salter, has called for the creation of a national Fire and Rescue Service Body to record and investigate firefighter deaths and other serious incidents, following the tragic deaths of eight on-duty firefighters in 2007 - the worst year for firefighter deaths since 1985.

Mr Salter was meeting with Fire Brigade Union (FBU) members from Reading who were lobbying Parliament following the publication of In the Line of Duty, an FBU report which highlighted the sharp increase in firefighter deaths over recent years. Thirteen firefighters were killed at fires between 2003 and 2007, however, for almost seven years prior to this period; there were no firefighter deaths at fires. The report found that many of these tragedies could have been avoided with the right policies, procedures and resources.

Mr Salter has also added his name to a House of Commons Early Day Motion 2440 Firefighter Safety which states:

That this House notes the recent increased number of firefighter deaths highlighted in the Fire Brigades Union report In the Line of Duty; further notes the lack of safety-critical operational guidance for fire authorities highlighted in that report, and the absence of a properly resourced national body with overall responsibility for recording and investigating firefighter deaths and other serious incidents; and therefore calls for work to be commenced with stakeholders to see through the creation of such a body with responsibility for developing and agreeing safety-critical operational guidance arising from those investigations.

Martin Salter MP said:

“I was delighted to meet with the firefighters lobbying Parliament who every day bravely put their lives at risk to save others. We owe it to them to take action to help to ensure that their safety is protected through better training, guidance, equipment and policy. I therefore call on the government to accept the recommendations of the Fire Brigade Union, in order to stop the rising death toll of firefighters on duty.”