Female firefighters 'forced to strip down to their underwear'

July 25, 2023

Female firefighters are being ‘forced to strip down to their underwear in front of male colleagues’ in ‘extremely inappropriate’ working environment, union claims

The union criticised the practice at Kent Fire and Rescue Service in a letter to the official inspector

Female firefighters are being made to strip down to their underwear in full view of their male colleagues and the wider public, their representatives have said.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) wrote that the practice at Kent Fire and Rescue Service is ‘extremely inappropriate’ in a letter to the official inspector.

A few months ago, a report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) outlined ‘deeply troubling’ behaviour across the emergency service in England.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: ‘Fire stations are workplaces – and it is unacceptable that firefighters are being put in the position of stripping down to their underwear in full view of colleagues, or even the public.’

The union said firefighters were being forced to strip down at stations ‘prior to donning fire kit when attending operational incidents’.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) criticised the practice at Kent Fire and Rescue Service in a letter to the official inspector (Stock Image)

The union said it been in touch with Ann Millington, the Kent brigade’s chief fire officer, in May after worries were raised through the union’s national women’s committee.

The union said: ‘She also appeared to defend the practice, stating that stripping down to underwear could prevent overheating.’

After Ms Millington’s denial, the FBU said its officials had personally seen it occurring.

In his letter to HMICFRS, Mr Wrack wrote: ‘To be clear, this is not common practice elsewhere; the accepted practice is that fire kit is donned over cotton workwear.’

The HMICFRS report released prior to the complaint in March found that every fire brigade in England was rife with harassment, bullying and discrimination complaints.

Writing to the inspectorate, Mr Wrack said Ms Millington’s response shone a light on the ‘very cultural problems we are trying to eradicate’ from the emergency service.

He highlighted Ms Millington’s claim in response to the union’s letter that no official complaint had been made over the issue.

The union said firefighters were being forced to strip down at stations ‘prior to donning fire kit when attending operational incidents’ (File Photo)

He said: ‘It is naive at best for the chief fire officer to argue that … As HMICFRS has noted, many people are reluctant to report situations and behaviours for fear of a hostile reaction, a refusal to act or attempts to dismiss their concerns.’

He added that the union also raised the issue in June with the National Fire Chiefs Council chair Mark Hardingham and the fire minister, Chris Philp, but that neither directly covered the issue in their responses.

Mr Wrack said: ‘This episode demonstrates chronic management inaction. The problems in the fire service go right to the top.’

Ms Millington told the Guardian: ‘Crews told us that wearing trousers under firefighting leggings makes them feel hotter, and practically all of them, men and women, wanted the option not to wear trousers under PPE. Especially at this time during warmer weather, many firefighters raised the discomfort of trousers becoming sweaty under leggings and said it can become very uncomfortable.

‘Individuals who choose not to wear trousers under PPE are expected to be aware of their own privacy/dignity and that of their colleagues while undressing behind open fire engine doors.

‘I would like to add that we have previously offered to discuss this matter with the FBU, and they have not responded.’