Compensate firefighters, union says

Labour’s general election manifesto must include a commitment to swiftly deliver compensation to firefighters who have developed cancer and other diseases through their job, says the FBU fire brigades’ union.

In a letter to Labour leader Keir Starmer, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said firefighters had been “betrayed” by the current government, and urged him to ensure that those suffering cancer, heart, lung and other conditions caused by exposure to fire contaminants are compensated. The union also called for funding for health monitoring and prevention measures. Countries including the US, Canada and Australia have had similar measures covering firefighters for decades, it added.

Research commissioned by the FBU, carried out by the University of Central Lancashire, and published in January 2023 revealed that firefighters are significantly more likely to die from cancer than the general population.