West Midlands Fire Service

The government has issued a temporary ban on the sale of disposable BBQs as it looks to reduce risk of wildfires during the continued heatwaves across the country.

West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority’s Appointments, Standards and Appeal Committee has recommended the appointment of Deputy Assistant Commissioner Paul Askew as the next Deputy Chief Fire Officer of West Midlands Fire Service.

As the government forges ahead with its devolution agenda in England, West Midlands Fire Service will move under the combined authority mayor meaning the demise of West Midlands Fire Authority which has been dogged by controversy since death of fire chief Wayne Brown in January 2024.

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) has launched a campaign, ‘Fast. Fierce. Fatal.’, to raise awareness of the risks associated with fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. The campaign comes as Black Friday and the Christmas period approach, highlighting the potential hazards of devices including e-bikes, e-scooters, phones, laptops, vapes and drones.

West Midlands Fire Service reports a smaller gender pay gap but a rise in its ethnicity gap, as it expands pay reporting to cover more characteristics.

As The Emergency Services Show returns to the NEC, West Midlands Fire Service will be on home ground with a new Chief Fire Officer at the helm. Simon Tuhill talks about his priorities for the service, the role of technology and why collaboration matters.

Sam Burton, DCFO at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, joined us on the For Every Response podcast to reflect on resilience, reform and representation, and how her experience – personal and professional – informs her leadership.

Air quality control company AlorAir has worked with West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service to turn an external container into a drying room.

Despite performing well in some areas, West Midlands Fire Service has not improved enough since its last inspection, with some areas deteriorating, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue (HMICFRS) has said.

An inquest into the tragic death of a former West Midlands fire chief has heard that he took his own life after months of alleged harassment and questioning over his qualifications.