Nepal UK
Picture: LFB
LFB mostly gets calls to help people who are stuck behind locked doors. However, in the last year and a half, they have also had to save someone trapped in a small cat flap opening and several window cleaners who got stuck in their platforms high up.
A representative from the LFB explained that sometimes people feel too shy or embarrassed to call for help, and their situation gets much worse over hours, or even days, before they reach out. The brigade wants to assure everyone that they will provide help and advice without judging anyone. They also pointed out that most rescues are finished in under an hour, so it is always better to ask for help quickly to avoid further harm.
New figures from the brigade show that London's firefighters have rescued 3,627 people since January 2024. This number averages out to more than six rescues every day. The types of rescues include:
1,754 people who had fallen or become unwell behind a locked door
463 people stuck in lifts
389 people from other unusual incidents (like a child's hand caught in playground equipment)
318 people from fires
275 people from various other emergencies
229 people who were locked inside places
73 people from road accidents
68 people from water or mud incidents
58 people from chemical spills
Some of the LFB's recent rescues have even been reported in the news. For example, in April 2024, firefighters saved a man stuck in a deep ditch at a building site in Charlton. A few months later, they helped children and adults at a swimming pool in Wembley after a chemical leak. In June of this year, firefighters also assisted a woman in Clapham who found herself locked out of her flat.
The brigade stated that this new information clearly shows the many different types of urgent situations they are prepared and equipped to handle for Londoners. (Source BBC)
