#470 Cuts, Cancer, Crewing & What’s Really Happening to the UK Fire Service with Ben Selby Assistant General Secretary of Fire Brigades Union

This episode with Ben Selby from the Fire Brigades Union takes a clear and honest look at the pressures facing the UK fire and rescue service, from funding cuts and the loss of around 12,000 firefighters since 2010 to the real-world impact seen in places like Oxfordshire and Dorset and Wiltshire. We explore the strain on on-call systems, the need for national standards and how workforce changes, duty systems and family support are shaping the modern job. The conversation also dives into firefighter health, contamination and the move toward health monitoring, alongside a critical discussion on water infrastructure, flow rates and the risks of relying on a system firefighters do not control. This is a grounded, wide-ranging discussion about safety, resilience and what the future of the fire service could look like if the current trajectory continues. Support & Join the FBU HERE Connect with Ben HERE Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website FIRST TACTICAL- tactical gear for elite operators GORE-TEX Professional Clothing MSA The Safety Company JAFCO IDEX FIRE & EVACUATION SERVICE LTD Send us Fan Mail Support the show ***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.*** Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew

You can listen to #470 Cuts, Cancer, Crewing & What’s Really Happening to the UK Fire Service with Ben Selby Assistant General Secretary of Fire Brigades Union online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

#470 Cuts, Cancer, Crewing & What’s Really Happening to the UK Fire Service with Ben Selby Assistant General Secretary of Fire Brigades Union is an episode from The Firefighters Podcast by Pete Wakefield.

This episode is 63:17 long.

This episode was published on May 4, 2026.

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