What is Firefighters’ Memorial Day?

4th May 2022 Katherine Simmons 429 Views canterbury, fighters, Fire, kent fire and rescue

Every year many men and women that have been injured and lost their lives as a part of the fire and rescue service. Firefighters Memorial Day on the 4th of May honours those who have died in the line of duty.

Also known as International FireFightersDay, the day observes a minute’s silence at the front of fire stations and other fire and rescue service workplaces at midday. Many of the UK’s fire and rescue service employees participating in the event.

Community Corporate and Events Fundraiser for The Fire Fighters Charity, Louise Furneaux spoke about the importance of this day,

“Firefighters Memorial Day is a really, really important day in our calendar, certainly for our charity, because we are a charity who acknowledges and supports our colleagues that are serving and firefighters in the UK, and also their families as well.”

To mark Firefighters’ Memorial Day today (4 May), we will pause in a moment of silence at midday to remember those firefighters who have died or have been injured as a result of their duties. #FMD22 #FireFightersDay #FirefightersMemorialDay pic.twitter.com/sGVtXKEgez

— Kent Fire and Rescue Service (@kentfirerescue) May 4, 2022

The day also sees the Fire Brigades Union and Firefighters’ Memorial Trust laying a wreath at the National Firefighters’ memorial by St Paul’s Cathedral.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said in a statement:

“This is a huge moment of unity for us all as we come together to remember the courage and sacrifice of fallen firefighters. We must make sure the firefighters who died protecting their communities are remembered and honoured. As a union representing firefighters across the UK, we are proud to commemorate those who have come before us and to recognise their sacrifice and their contribution to the safety of people in our communities.”

At midday today, everyone across the service marked #FirefightersMemorialDay with a minute’s silence – to remember and pay our respects to all those who have lost their lives as a result of their duties. #firefighterday pic.twitter.com/tGQ7f4slSX

— Kent Fire and Rescue Service (@kentfirerescue) May 4, 2022

Kent Fire and Rescue Services reported that they had 1,172 firefighters in the Fire and Rescue workforce and pensions statistics for England, between April 2020 and March 2021.

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During the time frame of April 2020 and March 2021 it is reported that there was 22 personnel injured at fires and 15 personnel at non-fire incidents.

While firefighters celebrate in their own way, many of the public can also share their support. Louise Furneaux from The Fire Fighters Charity spoke about the ways people can offer support, “if they wanted to in a really positive way is actually saying thank you.”

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