The winner of this year’s Firefighter of the Year award has appealed to the government to abandon attacks on firefighter pensions.

Paul Rich, a London firefighter whose brave actions and quick thinking helped ensure that the lives of six children were saved during a fire in Southall on Christmas Day 2012, won the award at a ceremony last night at the Park Plaza Hotel in London attended by the secretary of state for communities and local government, Eric Pickles.

Rich said: “The government’s attacks will make firefighters’ pensions unworkable, unaffordable and unfair, and they must work with the Fire Brigades Union to find a negotiated solution.

“They’re ignoring all the evidence and imposing a scheme that will be devastating for thousands of firefighters across the country.

“I’m really proud of the award I received but firefighters don’t work for praise. We just want to be treated fairly and have the promises we were made about our retirement honoured.”

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the FBU, said: “Paul’s actions helped ensure that six children are still alive today and we’re proud to be able to say he’s a member of the Fire Brigades Union.

“Across the UK firefighters routinely put their lives on the line and operate in debilitating conditions to keep the public safe.

“Members of this government love to bathe in firefighters’ reflective glory and are never short of praise when it suits them, yet are devastating our fire service with cuts and ripping up agreements over their pensions.

“It’s time to bring this dispute to an end so firefighters like Paul can focus on serving the public – and look forward to a retirement free from the burdens the government seems intent on imposing.”

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