Firefighters are giving up their Christmas Day with their loved ones, to help cook a big meal for the most vulnerable members of their community and their carers this holiday.

The food is provided by the Co-op stores and volunteers from both the Brigade and Co-op will also be helping to cook.

Diners will be given a Christmas hamper which will include a smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide alarm, and a commitment to deliver a follow-up home fire safety visit at a later date. 

Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety Dan Daly, said: “Our Christmas cook up is about much more than turkey and all the trimmings; it’s about building a lasting relationship with our most vulnerable residents and opening up our stations and services to the communities we serve.

“The role of a firefighter is no longer just about putting fires out, it’s about stopping them from happening in the first place. 

"Just over half of people who died in accidental fires in London last year were receiving care services and often simple measures like fire retardant bedding or a smoke alarm would have saved their life."

Islington, Dagenham, Finchley and Leytonstone fire stations are among the other crews taking part in the scheme.