[2][5][4] The LFB is led by the Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Planning, a position currently held by Andy Roe.

[7][8] As well as firefighting, the LFB also responds to road traffic collisions, floods, shut-in-lift releases, and other incidents such as those involving hazardous materials or major transport accidents.

[3] In December 2022, the brigade was put into special measures with an enhanced level of monitoring after an independent review highlighted incidents of misogyny and racism.

Prior to Cotton, Ron Dobson was the commissioner and he had served in the LFB since 1979; he was appointed CBE for his distinguished contribution to the fire service.

[18] Historically, the London Fire Brigade was organised into two divisions: Northern and Southern, divided in most places by the River Thames and each commanded by a divisional officer.

Further changes to the legislative, organisational and structural fabric of the brigade, which could include varying the attendance time, the location of frontline appliances and number of personnel, plus mandatory performance targets, priorities and objectives are set by the MHCLG in the form of a document called the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework.

[34] The rank structure of the Brigade is now as in the following table:[35] In the last 24 months,[clarification needed] the LFB have run three firefighter recruitment campaigns; however, in previous years they have seen fewer or even none.

[37] After training school, firefighters serve a one-year period of probation; qualification and full pay are not reached until the candidate completes a development folder which usually takes around 12–18 months.

[41] A London Fire Brigade report published in March 2012 stated that the shift changes have improved safety in the city.

[42] Firefighters must go through an assessment centre and reach the required standard set out by the Brigade in order to gain promotion.

Appointments above the role of Assistant Commissioner are overseen by elected members of The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

Firefighters and civilians such as building inspectors, scientists, surveyors and other practising professionals, take these qualifications either by written test or research.

[45] A special service is defined as every other non-fire related emergency, such as:[46] The full scope of the brigade's duties and powers is enshrined in the Fire and Rescue Act 2005.

Areas with a medium density of large buildings and/or population, such as multi-storey residential blocks, will generally be classified "B" risk.

Examples of 25-pump fires include the blaze at Alexandra Palace in 1980,[53] and at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Chelsea in 2008, the latter also involving four aerial appliances.

Examples of these special services which may be charged for include the clearing of flooded commercial premises, the use of brigade equipment for supplying or removing water, and making structures safe in cases where there is no risk of personal injury to the public.

LFB firefighters and watch officers often visit residential and commercial premises to advise on hazard risk assessment and fire prevention.

The Southeastern District serves the following boroughs of London: Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham, and Southwark.

The Eastern District serves the following boroughs of London: Barking and Dagenham, Hackney , Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest.

The Western District serves the following boroughs of London: Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, and Kensington and Chelsea.

However, the East End of London is known for having lots of very busy stations with just a single appliance, due to budget cuts.

The remaining stations equipped with a single pump ladder generally attend fewer than 2,000 calls per year.

The two-seat cars are fitted with six extinguishers (two each of water, foam and powder), plus a first-aid kit and defibrillator, and may be deployed to investigate automatic alarms actuating and smaller fires such as those in rubbish bins which do not require a full-sized engine and crew.

As part of the New Dimensions scheme, London Fire Brigade received the following government-owned appliances: The brigade also acquired nine London Resilience Lorries (LRL) to use in frontline roles, some relating to a major response to any potential terrorist incidents; and two Scientific Support Units (SSU) for identifying a range of chemicals and gases; and several USAR personnel carriers.

More modern fire stations, though constructed without such features, often have more spacious accommodation and facilities for staff of both sexes, public visitor areas such as community safety offices and other amenities.

[65] In response, the LFB signed a partnership contract with Babcock International Group PLC to provide firefighter training over the course of 25 years beginning in 2012.

[69] In February 2010, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, officially opened the LFB's first new station in four years, at Harold Hill.

[70] In the past two decades the total number of stations has reduced slightly, with the following permanent closures, including 10 in January 2014 as part of budget cuts: In October 2007, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announced that the location for the new regional control centre, dedicated to the capital and part of the FiReControl project, would be at the Merton industrial estate in the London Borough of Merton.

The geographical area covered by the LFB along with the major transport infrastructure and the political, business and administrative bases typical of a capital city has seen the brigade involved in many significant incidents.

The term gold command can also relate to an emergency service building, mobile control unit or other base that becomes the focal point (often remotely) for the incident's management.