London Fire Brigade inaugurates water safety centre at Twickenham Fire Station

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has launched several initiatives to improve public safety, focusing on water safety and wildfire response.

These initiatives include the establishment of the Water Safety Centre for Excellence at Twickenham Fire Station.

This centre aims to educate the public on the dangers of the River Thames, especially following the tragic death of 14-year-old Brian Sasu.

Year 7 pupils from St Mark’s School, where Brian was a student, attended a water safety education session at the centre.

Borough Commander Robert Davies demonstrated the Twickenham Big River Flume tank, highlighting the risks of the Thames’ currents and cold water shock.

Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, stated: “Recent tragedies have reminded us just how dangerous the Thames can be.

“Our partnership with the LFB and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has been instrumental.

“Together, we’ve installed emergency throwline boards across the borough, giving the public access to lifesaving equipment and enabling faster rescues.”

Promoting water safety education

The LFB continues to advocate for water safety education, particularly among schoolchildren.

Brian Sasu’s family joined the LFB to emphasize the importance of water safety, following his drowning in the Thames on 18 July 2022.

Brian’s father, George, participated in a recent event at Twickenham Fire Station, saying: “It’s been great working alongside London Fire Brigade to get our message out there and see schools place importance on water safety education and young people practicing with throwlines.

“I want parents and schools to talk to children about the dangers of open waters so that what happened to Brian won’t happen to their own children.”

The LFB’s education programme provides age-appropriate safety advice.

Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Craig Carter, commented: “What happened to Brian was a tragedy that we hope is never repeated.

“Today’s event shows the importance of the work our education team does with schools, getting important safety messages out to young people and equipping them with lifesaving advice to help prevent future tragedies.”

Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration, and the Fire Service, Jules Pipe, added: “When temperatures soar, it’s tempting to cool off in open water but swimming in the Thames, London’s canals, and waterways can be extremely dangerous.

“Brian Sasu was just 14 when he drowned swimming in the Thames and it is vital we do all we can to prevent a further tragedy.”

New wildfire response vehicles and training

In response to the growing threat of wildfires, the LFB is trailing new vehicles designed for grass and wildfire response.

Following a review of the 2022 wildfires, four new vehicles with off-road capabilities and advanced technology have been introduced.

These vehicles can pump water while driving and are equipped with wildfire beaters and backpack blowers.

Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster stated: “The wildfires that we experienced in London in 2022 were unprecedented and had a devastating impact on our open spaces and communities.

“We have learned from our response two years ago to make sure the Brigade is well-prepared to tackle this ever-growing risk head-on.”

The vehicles were demonstrated during a simulated wildfire response training exercise at Wanstead Flats, conducted in partnership with the City of London Corporation and Thames Water.

Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee, Ben Murphy, emphasized the importance of these exercises: “Multi-agency training and educational exercises, like the one carried out at Wanstead Flats, are vital to protect people, property, and wildlife.

“It has shown how effectively our partners can respond should something like this happen in real life.”

Geoff Johnson, Fire Brigade Liaison Manager at Thames Water, added: “We’re pleased to be working collaboratively with London Fire Brigade to run this training session, supporting firefighters with access to a significant water source in a remote location.”