GMFRS Updates: Mozambique Aid and T Levels in Oldham 2026

Oldham's fire service has quietly stretched its reach from the borough to flood-hit Mozambique, sending three of its own to help with relief work 19 days ago while also opening its doors to the first teenagers on new T Level placements. The twin moves show Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) juggling global duty and local talent-building at the same time.

The sixth-formers, who started five days ago, are the service's maiden T Level cohort; they will spend industry days inside stations and headquarters, shadowing crews and learning how fire engineering, community safety and incident logistics fit together. GMFRS hopes the year-long placements turn classroom theory into practical skill and, in time, widen the recruitment pool for retained firefighters and control-room staff.

Back at home, crews have launched a Winter Fire Safe drive after noticing a seasonal spike in blazes sparked by heaters, candles and overloaded sockets. Short animations aimed at bikers have also been released, illustrating common collision points on Oldham's bends and how protective kit buys vital seconds in a slide. Both campaigns can be watched on the service's site; riders and residents are being nudged to share them in WhatsApp groups rather than wait for formal adverts.

Anyone living in a thatched, terraced or high-rise property, or who keeps medical kit at home, can now check online for a free Home Fire Safety Assessment. Firefighters will fit smoke alarms where needed and talk through escape plans; last winter 1,200 Oldham households used the scheme and officers say early visits cut call-outs later.

Meanwhile, GMFRS has joined the podcast crowd with 'Beyond the Call'. The first episodes let control-room staff describe the moment they realised a routine call was turning into a multi-agency rescue, and explain why some nights end with tea and debrief dogs. Episodes drop fortnightly; the service insists it is not chasing likes, just trying to let residents hear unfiltered voices.