London's firefighters are confronting a profound mental health emergency, fuelled not by flames but by the emotionally draining reality of their modern role. Startling new figures presented to the London Assembly reveal that fewer than one in four call-outs now involve an actual fire, exposing crews to sustained trauma from a relentless stream of distressing incidents.
The Changing Face of Firefighting: Trauma Beyond the Flames
Research commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and led by Dr Carolina Campodonico at the University of Lancashire paints a stark picture. Firefighters in the capital, who operate the busiest service in the country, are increasingly attending "emotionally demanding" calls. These range from false alarms and road traffic collisions to water rescues and, critically, a significant number of mental health incidents involving suicide risk or severe distress.
"When we talk about stress in the fire service, it’s really important to move beyond the idea that this is just about attending fires," Dr Campodonico told the London Assembly Fire Committee. She emphasised that while these incidents lack flames, their psychological toll is heavy, especially when compounded by long service, high call volumes, and a shift pattern that offers "very little opportunity to properly decompress."
Alarming Statistics: Sickness, Sleep and Moral Injury
The data underscores the severity of the situation. A 2019 survey by the charity Mind found 60% of fire service workers reported personal experience of mental health problems. More recently, between January 2019 and June 2024, conditions like stress, anxiety and depression accounted for one-fifth of all long-term sickness absences within the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
Dr Campodonico's research also identified that one-third of London firefighters suffer from clinical sleep disturbances, a problem strongly linked to shift work and mental health. Furthermore, experts warn of a deeper psychological wound: moral injury.
Professor Rowena Hill of Nottingham Trent University, who authored a 2023 report on firefighter wellbeing, explained this occurs when personnel witness or participate in acts that clash with their moral beliefs. "Where we see things like home fire safety visits – they’re seeing a lot of people slipping through different cracks... That’s where we find that moral injury," she stated, suggesting some reported burnout may actually be this more profound syndrome.
Institutional Response and a Culture Shift
The LFB acknowledges the challenges. Dr Adrian Bevan, Assistant Director of Health & Safety, listed known risk factors including fear of injury, shift work, secondary employment, and impacts on sleep. In response, the brigade launched a new Wellbeing Strategy and mental health policy in 2022, aiming to shift from a treatment model to a preventative one.
Deputy Commissioner Spencer Sutcliff noted the unique pressure of running the nation's busiest service but suggested rising reports of mental health issues might also reflect reduced stigma. "People are more open and honest about their mental health challenges now... So that naturally influences the numbers, not necessarily the actual occurrences of stress," he said.
However, with the FBU branding the situation a "mental health crisis" and evidence pointing to systemic causes rooted in the job's evolution, it is clear London's firefighters are battling an invisible blaze that requires urgent and sustained intervention.
