The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has today revealed stark figures showing that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) only managed to keep its full fleet of fire engines available for 5% of shifts during the year to date. [1]
Between 1 January and 8 November 2025, the full fleet was only available for 33 shifts as a result of cuts to crewing, amounting to 1 in 20 shifts. The last time that every LFB fire engine was available was 30 September.
Meanwhile, the union says that the 2026-27 LFB budget submission threatens a further £6 million in cuts, hides £12 million in unidentified savings, and removes key operational allocations such as uniforms and communications upgrades — even as the brigade borrows heavily for headquarters redevelopment.
The FBU is calling on the Mayor of London and the London Fire Commissioner to address this crisis in availability by prioritising funding for the frontline in the upcoming fire service budget. [2]
David Shek, Fire Brigades Union executive council Member for London said:
“On almost every day this year, Londoners have paid for a service that wasn’t fully there. Every unavailable fire engine is a community unprotected.
“Senior leaders of the London Fire Brigade are sitting on reserves and borrowing millions for property projects while fire engines sit idle, without enough firefighters to crew them. We have raised these issues with London MPs this week, and many have expressed deep concern.
“We are calling for a firm commitment from the Mayor and the London Fire Commissioner to ensure that funding is not only restored but increased, working with and lobbying the fire minister and the Labour government to deliver the resources our service urgently needs.”
Gareth Beeton, Fire Brigades Union London regional chair said:
“Firefighters are doing their jobs under impossible pressure, with London having lost over 1,000 firefighter posts to cuts since 2010.
“The brigade’s leadership must explain why so much public money is being spent on property portfolios while crews go without the basics to do their jobs safely.
“The mayor and fire commissioner have a duty to keep Londoners safe. Next year’s budget must provide the funding needed to restore fire cover as a priority.”
