West Midlands Fire Service

Come and get your wheels cleaned at two WMFS charity car washes this weekend! ✨🚒

📍 Saturday 20 June, Binley Fire Station

🚒 Hipswell Highway, Coventry, CV2 5FQ

⏰ 10am-2pm

Binley will be raising funds for two fantastic causes in the Fire Fighters Charity and MND Association.

ALSO!

📍 Saturday 20 June, Fallings Park Fire Station

🚒 Bushbury Road, Wolverhampton, WV10 0NL

⏰ 10am-4pm.

This car wash, hosted by the Wolverhampton Fire Cadets, is fundraising for their group and The Fire Fighters Charity.

Cash donations will be warmly appreciated by both car-washing teams on the day. 🫶

See you and your cars/bikes/vans there!

🚆 All aboard! 🚆

More than 140 school pupils visited our Safeside facility this week, learning how to stay safe around the railway as part of National Rail Safety Week.

The young people took part in interactive sessions at our unique indoor safety village, where they received essential advice to help keep themselves safe on and around the rail network.

The visit was supported by Avanti West Coast as part of the operator’s ongoing commitment to raise awareness of rail safety among young people who live across the regions it serves.

The students also received safety information on topics including road and water safety, and fire survival guidance.

Read more: https://wmfs.link/4fOs9HW

It's , and we're reminding families across the West Midlands to have important conversations about water safety.

Recent figures show a significant increase in drowning deaths among 13 to 17-year-olds.

Many incidents occur in open water such as canals, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, particularly during periods of warm weather when these places can seem inviting. If you're a parent, carer or family member, take a few moments to discuss the risks with the young people in your life.

Understanding the dangers of open water and knowing what to do in an emergency can save lives.

If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, remember: Float to Live.

Tilt your head back, keep your ears submerged and spread your arms and legs out like a star, try to control your breathing and call for help.

🏆 👏 Celebrating dedication and service!

This week, we've been incredibly proud to recognise our colleagues who have received the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for their 20 and 30 years of loyal and devoted service.

The awards were presented by Deputy Lieutenant Clive Reeves and Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill at our Birmingham headquarters. Colleagues, family, and friends were there to celebrate this fantastic achievement.

A huge thank you to our Band of the West Midlands Fire Service for their wonderful music and support on the night, and to those who organised a superb evening.

👏 Congratulations to all our award recipients – your dedication and service are truly inspiring. 🚒 🚒

Read more: https://wmfs.link/3SaV2UV

Last week, our Operational Training and Development Team hosted a multi-agency COMAH exercise, making full use of our Command, Training and Development Facility at our Birmingham Headquarters.

Representatives from as many as nine agencies were in attendance, including WMFS, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, Birmingham Airport, Birmingham City Council, The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), a Government Liaison Officer, Severn Trent Water and the Environment Agency.

Having a dedicated facility to train, develop and prepare our staff is crucial. It enables realistic exercising, supports multi-agency working and helps ensure we are ready to respond effectively when communities need us most.

Thank you to all partners who attended.

≠WeAreWMFS

Today, our thoughts are with the family and friends of Ramsey Rhodes, whose funeral took place in Gornal Wood.

Ramsey was our oldest retired firefighter who, next month, would have celebrated his 102nd birthday.

Here are some pictures of Ramsey in July 2024, during a presentation to him by crews and the National Association of Retired Fire Service Personel (NARF), at Brierley Hill Fire Station, as he celebrated his 100th birthday.