West Midlands Fire Service:
Meeting the Challenges of Today while Preparing for Those of Tomorrow
As part of our We're All in this Together! campaign in support of Fire Door Safety Week 2025, we're shining the spotlight on key voices from the fire safety industry to highlight crucial fire safety issues, emphasise how fire safety is everyone's responsibility and demonstrate how – by working together - we can create a safer world. First up, we have the West Midlands Fire Service, who work tirelessly every day to protect lives, property, and the environment from fire and other emergencies. In this article, we speak with Kieron McGinn from the service's Fire Engineering Team and discuss some of the most common fire safety issues the service encounters, what people can do to ensure a fire door's effectiveness, and how rechargeable batteries can pose real safety risks if not handled properly.
Prevention, Protection & Response
The West Midlands Fire Service strives to make the West Midlands safer, stronger, and healthier through its core service areas of prevention, protection, and response. The fire service invests a significant amount of energy and effort in ensuring their community is educated, supported, and secure by delivering activities that promote safer and healthier communities, protecting life and property to strengthen businesses and communities, and responding effectively to emergencies. From providing prevention activities through collaborative partnerships to auditing high-risk buildings, the West Midlands Fire Service is working hard to build a service that is equipped to meet the challenges of today while preparing for those of tomorrow.
Are there any current fire safety issues or risks that the fire service would like to bring to the public's attention?
One important thing to be aware of is the safety of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These batteries typically power everyday devices, such as phones, laptops, cameras, vapes, and scooters, and many households and businesses will regularly use them. When rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are used and handled correctly, they pose minimal risk; however, they can become a potential fire safety hazard if overcharged, short-circuited, or damaged. To stay safe if you notice an unusual odour, a change in colour, shape or size, excessive heat, leakage or a strange noise from your battery, stop using it immediately and move it away from flammable materials to prevent potential fire risks.
What are some of the common fire safety issues the service encounters with fire doors that put people at risk?
We frequently face several critical issues with fire doors that can compromise safety, such as fire doors being propped open, damaged door seals and hardware, excessive gaps around the door, fire doors not appropriately installed and fitted with non-compliant door hardware, lack of regular maintenance, and missing or damaged door closers. Fire doors being propped open is one of the most common issues we encounter – this is often done for convenience by people passing through an area of a building. However, this practice completely negates the door's fire protection function. Additionally, damaged, faulty, or missing door closers are common problems, which put occupants at risk, as the fire door won't automatically close as intended.
What advice would you give to homeowners and tenants regarding the use of fire doors?
Always keep fire doors closed. Fire doors not only protect you but also others in your building. While it might be tempting to prop a fire door open for easier access, think about how this could have severe consequences for others. You may have vulnerable neighbours and young children living in your apartment block. If shared communal areas are compromised due to modifying or wedging open a fire door, the fire door won't help keep others safe in a fire situation. Along with never propping a fire door open, never remove or disable its door closer. Regularly check the condition of fire doors, report any concerns immediately to your landlord, and always know your escape routes out of your building.
What can people do to ensure the effectiveness of fire doors? And who's responsible for ensuring fire doors operate as they should?
Ensuring the effectiveness of fire doors is everyone's responsibility. If you notice anything missing or damaged on a fire door that could compromise its purpose, take action immediately or notify the relevant person. Ensure fire doors close fully and latch correctly, with door closers working properly, check the door's seals regularly for damage, keep fire escape routes clear, and report any damage or maintenance issues immediately. It’s important to understand the vital role fire doors play and help raise awareness by educating others.
What does the West Midlands Fire Service do to help raise awareness of fire safety?
The West Midlands Fire Service is committed to promoting fire safety awareness and educating the public. We do this by providing Safe and Well visits for vulnerable residents, during which we offer fire safety advice and provide essential equipment. Our team regularly works with schools, community groups, and other local organisations, and run public education events to spread important safety messages. We also offer businesses support by providing guidance through various commercial fire safety services. Our seasonal campaigns support national initiatives such as Electrical Fire Safety Week and Fire Door Safety Week, to highlight specific fire safety risks. We also collaborate extensively with various local authorities, housing associations, social services and educational institutions to extend our reach and impact within the community.
To discover more about the excellent first aid courses, commercial training or educational programmes offered by the West Midlands Fire Service, visit: Education - West Midlands Fire Service
