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Every weekday morning we bring you the sector’s freshest news stories, starting today with the news that Cleveland Fire Authority has announced that it has appointed Simon Weastell as its new Assistant Chief Fire Officer, following a competitive selection process.
There’s also a story on how two fire engines from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) will be joining a convoy which is set to travel 2,000 miles (3,219km) to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
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New Assistant Chief Fire Officer appointed at Cleveland Fire Brigade
Cleveland Fire Authority has announced that it has appointed Simon Weastell as its new Assistant Chief Fire Officer, following a competitive selection process.
Simon, who has been serving in a temporary Assistant Chief Fire Officer role, has been with the Brigade for over 30 years, beginning his career with Cleveland Fire Brigade in 1993 as an On Call Firefighter at Yarm Station. More via Emergency Services Times
Police infiltrate fraud platform used by thousands of criminals worldwide
A UK-founded website used by more than 2,000 criminals to defraud victims worldwide has been infiltrated in the Met’s latest joint operation to tackle large-scale online fraud.
‘LabHost’, which was set up in 2021 by a criminal cyber network, tricked as many as 70,000 individual UK victims, obtaining 480,000 card numbers, 64,000 PIN numbers and more than one million passwords. More via Metropolitan Police
Surrey ambulance staff to strike over pay
Ambulance care assistant workers have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action over pay.
GMB Union members at the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust voted almost 94% in favour of taking action on a turnout of nearly 80%.
The dispute centres around backpay owed on the London Living Wage, with members owed up to £1,300 in wages, the union said. More via BBC News
Ukraine collaboration delivers vital training amid ongoing crisis
Rob Davis, a retired fire officer who served for 30 years, explains how a collaborative effort between the UK and Ukraine is delivering crucial training programmes in technical rescue and emergency response.
Navigating the complexities of rebuilding resilience, Rob offers insights into the impact of capacity-building initiatives amid adversity. More via Emergency Services Times
Lancashire’s chief fire officer to retire after 30 years of service
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s chief fire officer has announced that he will retire at the end of this year.
CFO Justin Johnson said he had ‘mixed emotions’ and that it had been an honour and a privilege to lead the outstanding organisation. More via Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
All emergency services attend explosion at BAE Systems munitions facility in Wales
A military weapons factory for Europe’s largest contractor has been rocked by an explosion.
The incident took place just before 11am this morning at BAE Systems Glascoed in Monmouthshire, south Wales. More via The Mirror
Fire service donates two engines to Ukraine
A convoy of fire engines is set to travel 2,000 miles (3,219km) to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
Two fire engines from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) will be joining the convoy of 32 vehicles as it travels across Europe. More via BBC News
Emergency responder set to represent Scotland at UK strongman competition
A Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) emergency responder and part time strongman has been selected to represent Scotland at one of the UK’s biggest competitive events next month.
Calum Elder, 38, based out of Kirkwall Ambulance station, qualified as a Technician in 2022, but has been competing in strongman competitions for the past several years. More via Emergency Services Times