LIVES are being put at risk in the capital due to a lack of firefighting resilience, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) warned today.

London regional secretary Jon Lambe said a record number of fires in the capital this summer and recent major wildfires across the country have pushed the service to breaking point.

Mr Lambe explained that firefighters and fire engines are “often removed from the capital by other fire and rescue services which are themselves short on firefighting capacity, to assist in combating wildfires and other emergencies.”

He said: “We do not have enough firefighters, fire appliances, PPE or adequate levels of firefighting equipment to make Londoners as safe as possible.

“This drain on our resources means poorer response times – and even when crews attend emergencies, there simply are not enough resources to fight fires effectively.

“We want to see the government increase funding for the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

“But we also demand that LFB bosses manage the current situation better and make sure that London’s firefighting reserves are not depleted.

“If there is a failure to act it is clear members of the public and firefighters will be put at risk due to increased response times and a lack of firefighting resources being made available.

“There can be no delay, the time for action in our capital has reached a critical point.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham issued a national government alert last week warning people in England and Wales not to light anything that could spark a wildfire.

Made at the request of firefighters, his alert followed major wildfires, including one in Stourbridge in the West Midlands that destroyed 19 homes.