{"id":101213,"date":"2026-08-11T09:33:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T09:33:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/101213\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T09:33:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T09:33:48","slug":"i-spent-30-years-fighting-londons-worst-fires-then-the-flames-came-for-my-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/101213\/","title":{"rendered":"I spent 30 years fighting London\u2019s worst fires \u2013 then the flames came for my home"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 31 years on the job, London Fire Brigade (LFB) station commander Alex Strand has fought some of the capital\u2019s worst blazes since World War Two.<\/a><\/p>\n

This searingly hot summer has been his busiest ever. The veteran firefighter has regularly scrambled from his central London base to battle wildfires<\/a> raging in the capital\u2019s outer boroughs.<\/p>\n

But last month, he was mobilised to a wildfire with a difference: the flames sweeping down a country park in Rainham, east London, were just yards from his family home.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"HandoutCaption: Handout photo issued by Forestry England of a major heathland blaze in the New Forest near Ringwood in Hampshire. More than 20 fire engines are tackling the blaze near the A31 in Hampshire after a vehicle fire spread to the nearby heathland on Sunday. Picture date: Monday August 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Forestry England\/PA Wire <\/p>\n

NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. <\/p>\n

Photographer: Forestry England
Provider: Forestry England\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

ENVIRONMENT<\/p>\n

Firefighters work \u2018tirelessly\u2019 to contain\u00a0New\u00a0Forest\u00a0fire<\/p>\n

Firefighters are beginning a third day of tackling a fire in the New Forest which they say they are \u201cmanaging to contain\u201d after working \u201ctirelessly\u201d through the night.<\/p>\n

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service initially scrambled 26 fire engines and four water carriers to the eastbound A31 after receiving 160 emergency calls reporting a van had caught fire on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n

How did the fire progress?<\/p>\n

The fire service said the blaze spread from the vehicle to the central reservation before progressing into nearby heathland in a south-easterly direction towards Backley Bottom, and is in a \u201cchallenging rural location\u201d. <\/p>\n

An update released on Tuesday by the fire service said that a change in wind direction had \u201cprovided a challenge\u201d overnight but it was managing to prevent \u201cspread and escalation\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"Caption: Firefighters tackle the fire at a major heathland blaze in the New Forest near Ringwood in Hampshire. More than 20 fire engines are tackling the blaze near the A31 after a vehicle fire spread to the nearby heathland on Sunday. Picture date: Monday August 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Photographer: Andrew Matthews
Provider: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

\"FirefightersCaption: Firefighters tackle the fire at a major heathland blaze in the New Forest near Ringwood in Hampshire. More than 20 fire engines are tackling the blaze near the A31 after a vehicle fire spread to the nearby heathland on Sunday. Picture date: Monday August 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Photographer: Andrew Matthews
Provider: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

\nCows face backdrop of smoke\n<\/p>\n

\"HandoutCaption: Handout photo issued by Forestry England showing cows standing in front of a plume of smoke coming from a major heathland blaze in the New Forest near Ringwood in Hampshire. More than 20 fire engines are tackling the blaze near the A31 in Hampshire after a vehicle fire spread to the nearby heathland on Sunday. Picture date: Monday August 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Forestry England\/PA Wire <\/p>\n

NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. <\/p>\n

Photographer: Forestry England
Provider: Forestry England\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

\nA closer look at the detail\n<\/p>\n

A total of seven fire engines, with water carriers and off-road vehicles, were involved in the operation overnight, which continued to use water pumped through miles of pipes laid from a nearby lake as part of a high-volume pump (HVP) system.<\/p>\n

\"NewCaption: New Forest ponies outside The New Forest Inn in Emery Down in the New Forest, Hampshire. Parts of the UK are set to see their fifth heatwave of the summer as the country continues to bake in an unprecedented period of dry, hot weather. Picture date: Sunday August 9, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Photographer: Andrew Matthews
Provider: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

\"SmokeCaption: Smoke rises from a major heathland blaze in the New Forest near Ringwood in Hampshire. More than 20 fire engines are tackling the blaze near the A31 after a vehicle fire spread to the nearby heathland on Sunday. Picture date: Monday August 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Photographer: Andrew Matthews
Provider: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

And the A31 \u2013 the main route through the New Forest \u2013 remains closed, with National Highways saying that repairs needed to \u201csignificant\u201d damage to the road surface can only start once the fire is safely under control.<\/p>\n

The story in pictures<\/p>\n

\"SmokeCaption: Smoke rises from a major heathland blaze in the New Forest near Ringwood in Hampshire. More than 20 fire engines are tackling the blaze near the A31 after a vehicle fire spread to the nearby heathland on Sunday. Picture date: Monday August 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Photographer: Andrew Matthews
Provider: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

\"PETERSFIELD,Caption: PETERSFIELD, UNITED KINGDOM ??? AUGUST 10: A general view of a smoke-filled sky looking towards the New Forest from Butser Hill on August 10, 2026, in Petersfield, United Kingdom. Petersfield sits within the Solent and South Downs drought zone, which was officially declared in drought on August 10. Along with areas declared last week, 71.3% of England is now experiencing a flash drought, a rapidly developing drought caused by a combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures. (Photo by Brook Mitchell\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Brook Mitchell
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Brook Mitchell<\/p>\n

\"\"Caption: Firefighters tackle the fire at a major heathland blaze in the New Forest near Ringwood in Hampshire. More than 20 fire engines are tackling the blaze near the A31 after a vehicle fire spread to the nearby heathland on Sunday. Picture date: Monday August 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Photographer: Andrew Matthews
Provider: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

What did the fire service say?<\/p>\n

Thanks to the efforts of firefighters we are managing to contain the fire. We have been using a mix of fire engines and off-road vehicles to damp down and cool the edges of the area involved in the fire to prevent spread and escalation.<\/p>\n

\"SmokeCaption: Smoke rises from a major heathland blaze in the New Forest near Ringwood in Hampshire. More than 20 fire engines are tackling the blaze near the A31 after a vehicle fire spread to the nearby heathland on Sunday. Picture date: Monday August 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Photographer: Andrew Matthews
Provider: Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

\"\"The schoolwear industry has said that parents may end up paying more for uniforms (Photo: Sam Edwards\/Getty)<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

How much parents could save from new school uniform rules<\/p>\n

A new law coming into force in September means parents in England will save money by having to buy fewer branded items of school uniform.<\/p>\n

\nWhat does the new law mean?\n<\/p>\n

From September, uniforms will be limited to three items with a school logo, like a blazer, jumper or sportswear \u2013 plus a tie for secondary schools.<\/p>\n

\"new\u2018The new school uniform act may help parents to shop beyond expensive official school suppliers, but it will not make any impact this year\u2019 writes Stefano Hatfield (Photo: Getty Images\/Moment RF) <\/p>\n

\"TwoIn my experience, the things single-sex schools are supposed to protect against are exactly what they breed (Photo: JohnnyGreig\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The government says the changes will save some families \u201cup to \u00a350 per child\u201d.<\/p>\n

\nHow will the law be enforced?\n<\/p>\n

\"WhoCaption: Who shall we choose?
Photographer: PeopleImages
Provider: Getty Images\/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto
Copyright: www.peopleimages.com<\/p>\n

Who is affected?<\/p>\n

Around 23 per cent of secondary schools will have to change their uniform lists by September.<\/p>\n

How will it be enforced?<\/p>\n

The education secretary has legal powers to direct schools to comply.<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,Caption: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM \u2013 JULY 15: Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson arrives at Downing Street for a weekly Cabinet Meeting in London, United Kingdom, on July 15, 2026. (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu<\/p>\n

\"Group(Photo: Getty).<\/p>\n

The rest of the UK<\/p>\n

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not have a cap on uniform items, but are encoureged to keep uniforms costs minimal.<\/p>\n

\"Rear(Photo: Alvaro Gonzalez\/Getty).<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

How England could eliminate hepatitis C<\/p>\n

England is \u201con the cusp\u201d of becoming one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C, health officials have said.<\/p>\n

\nWhat have the health officials said?\n<\/p>\n

Global health leaders have set out plans to\u00a0eliminate\u00a0viral\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0by 2030.<\/p>\n

\"ATwo more Omicron cases have been found in the UK (Photo: Reuters)<\/p>\n

\"AA member of the medical team holds up a used swab from a PCR test (Photo: Leon Neal\/Getty)<\/p>\n

NHS\u00a0England\u00a0said the nation is one of a handful of countries globally to have already exceeded the World Health Organisation benchmark of treating 80 per cent of all known cases.<\/p>\n

It said that deaths from the virus have reduced by 36 per cent in the last 10 years.<\/p>\n

\nWhat is hepatitis?\n<\/p>\n

Hepatitis\u00a0C\u00a0is spread through contact with blood infected with the virus.<\/p>\n

Many people have no symptoms but if it is not treated it can cause serious, and potentially life-threatening, liver damage.<\/p>\n

A treatment course of antiviral drugs for eight to 12 weeks cures more than 95 per cent of cases.<\/p>\n

NHS\u00a0England\u00a0said that since 2015, more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C.<\/p>\n

The expert view<\/p>\n

With\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C curable in more than nine out of 10 cases, we are committed to finding and treating everyone who needs support and would urge those at greater risk to come forward by ordering a free and confidential home-testing kit online.<\/p>\n

Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director<\/p>\n

\"HepatitisThe leading hypothesis for a cause of the outbreak is adenovirus, a common cold virus (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

Why August is the worst month for drink driving<\/p>\n

\"FileCaption: File photo dated 26\/11\/14 of a pint of beer and a set of car keys on a bar in a pub in central London. More than a fifth (21%) of motorists have drunk alcohol after 10pm when needing to drive before 9am the following morning, a new survey suggests. Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which commissioned the poll, warned that drinking alcohol the night before getting behind the wheel can pose a \u201cserious threat\u201d because a \u201cgroggy head\u201d means slower reaction times. Issue date: Friday July 18, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Philip Toscano\/PA Wire
Photographer: Philip Toscano
Provider: Philip Toscano\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

August is the worst month of the year for drink-drive crashes as summer events create \u201cmore opportunities\u201d to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, according to new research.<\/p>\n

\nWhat does the research show?\n<\/p>\n

RAC\u00a0analysis\u00a0found an average of 721 people were injured or killed\u00a0in\u00a0drink-drive crashes\u00a0in\u00a0August\u00a0between 2014\u00a0and\u00a02024.<\/p>\n

\"MedicalMedical marketing and Healthcare business analysis report, Medical Expenditure, Medicare Payment \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"ATherapy can clear your head (Photo: Fiordaliso\/Getty\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n

Before July, there was an average 704 casualties over the 11-year period.<\/p>\n

December, which is often associated with drink driving, had an average of 663 casualties.<\/p>\n

\"FileThe current drink-driving limit in England and Wales is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 35\u03bcg per 100ml of breath (Photo: Andrew Milligan\/PA) <\/p>\n

The expert view<\/p>\n

Drink-driving\u00a0is often seen\u00a0as\u00a0more of a Christmas issue, but our\u00a0analysis\u00a0shows collisions involving drivers who have consumed illegal levels of alcohol are actually far more common during the summer.<\/p>\n

RAC head of policy Simon Williams\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\u2018Opportunities and temptation\u2019<\/p>\n

Williams added that warmer weather, longer evenings\u00a0and \u201cfestivals\u00a0and\u00a0barbecues\u201d create \u201copportunities\u00a0and\u00a0temptation\u201d\u00a0for people to drink\u00a0and\u00a0then get behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

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Explained<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

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NEWS<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

Are you having as much sex as everyone else?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s natural for libido to wax and wane due to life events, dating status or hormonal changes. <\/p>\n

And it can be hard to say what a \u201cnormal\u201d sexual frequency is. But research and case studies give us a rough idea.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nThe statistics\n<\/p>\n

When it happens<\/p>\n

61%<\/p>\n

\u00a0A\u00a02023 survey<\/a>\u00a0concluded that almost two thirds (61 per cent) of us wait until night-time to have sex.<\/p>\n

Only 14 per cent opt to get busy in the early evening, and 10 per cent in the morning.<\/p>\n

Three <\/p>\n

\u00a0Research from 2019<\/a>\u00a0suggests that the average number of times British live-in or married couples have sex per month is three.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Are Gen Z having less sex than older people?<\/p>\n

I see my partner on the weekends and have sex with others in the week.<\/p>\n

Leanne, a 27-year-old influencer from Bristol has sex three or four times a week, but only sees her long-distance partner on the weekends. They have agreed they can both sleep with other people during the week.<\/p>\n

\nMillennials\n<\/p>\n

35-year-old Rebecca usually sleeps with her partner once or twice per week due to not having much child-free time.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Clare, 32, says her job is busy and she has to schedule sex with her partner on weekends, or some afternoons twice a month. \u201cOccasionally this slips and I do worry that it makes us not as connected,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\nGen X\n<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Daisy, 56<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t had the issue of my sex life drying up with\u00a0menopause. I\u2019m more aroused now.<\/p>\n

Anna, 52<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been married\u00a0for 15 years. I love my husband, but our sex life is non-existent, and has been for about five years.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Mimi, 46<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not really motivated to seek out partners; I vaguely like the idea of it but not enough to take any action.<\/p>\n

Boomers<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been married for 20 years and sex has become something of a rarity. We maybe have sex once a week on a Sunday morning as we\u2019re both relaxed and I can take Viagra late on Saturday night \u2013 without it, I can\u2019t perform.<\/p>\n

JACK, 63, OFFICE WORKER, KENT<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"Couple,Couple, talk and arguing with fight at house for disagreement, conflict and divorce discussion. Woman, explain and bored man for conversation, toxic relationship and drama and marriage fail in lounge \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

The seven rules that could save your marriage<\/p>\n

Keep your sense of self<\/p>\n

I did what I thought I was supposed to do and forgot my needs and wants. I think it\u2019s really important that you\u2019re an individual and not just a person who is married.<\/p>\n

KATIE STRATFORD*, A 55-YEAR-OLD MUM OF TWO, WHO DIVORCED ATER 19 YEARS<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A married couple sitting in silence, looking in opposite directions. The image captures the concept of female loneliness within a marriage, emotional disconnection, and relationship problems. Symbolizes quiet desperation and isolation at home
Photographer: Galina Zhigalova
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

\nSeven rules to save your marriage\n<\/p>\n

\"\"(Photo: Kathrin Ziegler\/Getty).<\/p>\n

The small things<\/p>\n

Small things, like being brought a cup of tea or saying thank you, make a big difference.<\/p>\n

Therapists<\/p>\n

Karen Deulofeu, who ended her six-year marriage, believes all couples should seek support, even before they think they need it.<\/p>\n

\"FemaleFemale psychiatrist discussing with mid adult woman during therapy session \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\"Young(Photo: MTStock Studio\/Getty).<\/p>\n

Listen<\/p>\n

Listen properly by repeating what you have heard and ask if you\u2019ve got that right.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t lose communication<\/p>\n

People don\u2019t talk about the deep issues; nobody else is going to do it for you. You don\u2019t want to ask questions because it might rock the boat\u2026you have to keep talking, and talk about what it is that you want within the relationship to keep going forward.<\/p>\n

KATIE STRATFORD<\/p>\n

\"\"\u2018One question is how to achieve such a longevity hack when most of us have relationships that unsettle us,\u2019 says Dr Amir Levine (Photo: Oliver Rossi\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\nSeven rules to save your marriage\n<\/p>\n

Remember that things change<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you see on social media and what friends say is quite often the\u00a0nice version. Everything is a phase,\u201d says Deulofeu.<\/p>\n

\"Unhappy\u2018I\u2019m genuinely considering returning to full-time work\u2019 (Photo: PeopleImages\/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A senior couple spend time in an indoor sunny market. The woman looks through a clothes on a rail as her husband waits patiently behind her.
Photographer: Catherine Falls Commercial
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

Look at yourself first<\/p>\n

\u201cFocus on what\u2019s in your control and what you can do differently, rather than the other person or a situation that you can\u2019t control. Invest in understanding yourself,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

There are things that all\u00a0mid-life\u00a0men should know about keeping their hearts healthy.<\/p>\n

From eating more purple fruit to avoiding large bowls of pasta, consultant cardiologist Dr Zoe Astroulakis [below] shares her simple lifestyle habits she wishes her patients would take on board.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nPositive changes to make\n<\/p>\n

Swap \u2018bad\u2019 fats for healthy ones<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to eat a fat-free diet; the key is to reduce your saturated fat. Reduce your dairy and swap your red meat for lean meat such as chicken and oily fish.<\/p>\n

\"ShoppingShoppers are set to face spiralling food bills as a result of the war in Iran (Photo: Bet_Noire\/Getty) <\/p>\n

\"manCaption: man eating fried chicken
Photographer: Prapass Pulsub
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

Control your portions<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need more carbohydrates in a meal than you can fit in your hand. Enormous plates of\u00a0pasta\u00a0can cause blood sugar spikes, which can lead to health problems.<\/p>\n

\nPositive changes to make\n<\/p>\n

\"ASupermarkets report increasing demand for blueberries (Photo: RHS\/Guy Harrop)<\/p>\n

Look for purple<\/p>\n

Blueberries, black grapes and aubergines are\u00a0great for boosting \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol.<\/p>\n

Have oats<\/p>\n

Porridge is one of the healthiest breakfast options because it\u2019s full of soluble fibre.<\/p>\n

\"OatmealSwap supermarket-bought cereals for wholemeal oats (Photo: Arx0nt\/Getty)<\/p>\n

\"YoungKetamine has become an increasingly mainstream drug used in clubs and festivals in recent years (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Stop taking cocaine<\/p>\n

It can provoke a massive heart attack, even in younger people who\u00a0don\u2019t have existing artery problems.<\/p>\n

Stay below the alcohol limit<\/p>\n

\"Middle\u2018She doesn\u2019t really like me drinking and says that I smell after a night out with friends\u2019 (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

The NHS guidelines of 14 units per week is still more than 1,000 additional calories.<\/p>\n

The safest level to aim for is zero.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re drinking, make sure you have some alcohol-free days each week and space it out.<\/p>\n

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Interview<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

\nPositive changes to make\n<\/p>\n

Do cardio too<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t only focus on lifting weights. It might make you look toned, but it says nothing about the health of your heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Close-upCaption: Close-up view of female jogger tying laces of her sport shoes before running exercise routine. Motivation, healthy lifestyle and fitness concept.
Photographer: Xavier Lorenzo
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

\"\"Home blood pressure monitors are now available to buy for around \u00a320, and are preferred over smart watches due to their more accurate readings (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Check your levels<\/p>\n

You can get free blood pressure checks in many pharmacies or you can buy a monitor for around \u00a330 to use at home.<\/p>\n

Avoid night shifts<\/p>\n

It disrupts the body\u2019s circadian rhythm and\u00a0can lead to increased cholesterol.<\/p>\n

\"EngineersEngineers from a Thames Water leak hunting team unloads equipment from their van during a night shift in London in 2022 (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

\nA sign to look out for\n<\/p>\n

A beer belly is a sign you need to make urgent changes<\/p>\n

\"glassesCaption: glasses of Real ale beer on bar in traditional English pub
Photographer: Peter Cade
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Photodisc<\/p>\n

It\u2019s usually\u00a0a sign you\u2019re drinking too much. By the time your belly starts to bulge, it\u2019s a sign that you\u2019re consuming excess calories and storing too much fat internally.<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

Want a new career but worried it\u2019s too late? <\/p>\n

Mid-life is not too late to start again, says experienced recruiter Elizabeth Willetts [below].<\/p>\n

Here, Willetts shares the best jobs to switch to during midlife if you want a change \u2013 without sacrificing pay.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nChanging careers in your fifties\n<\/p>\n

Mid-life\u00a0career pivots\u00a0can lead to higher earnings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

7.4%<\/p>\n

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, workers aged 45 to 54 who voluntarily pivot jobs see an average wage growth of 7.4 per cent.<\/p>\n

3.5%<\/p>\n

And those aged 55 to 64 still see a 3.5 per
cent increase.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The AARP Global Employee Survey also found that over half of workers who changed jobs voluntarily experienced improvements in work flexibility and mental health.<\/p>\n

So what job options are there? <\/p>\n

\nVirtual assistant\n<\/p>\n

As a virtual assistant your workload will be very\u00a0varied and it could be anything from tidying inboxes, booking travel, sending invoices or updating spreadsheets.<\/p>\n

\"OnlineMore and more people are using AI for counselling (Photo: Oscar Wong\/Getty\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n

\"ConfidentConfident successful Indian female HR recruitment manager holding resume in hands while having an interview in a modern office, looking and listening to job candidate. Friendly interview between HR female director and caucasian job candidate. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

You can start out earning around \u00a320 to \u00a335 an hour, but it can scale into agency work, launch support or even project management.\u00a0Some earn very well.<\/p>\n

\nRecruitment\n<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale candidate handshake with the recruiter at job interview \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

What it involves<\/p>\n

You will source, screen and interview candidates to match them with the right job roles.<\/p>\n

Who it\u2019s for<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need any qualifications but it\u2019s suited to communicators and commercially-minded people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"RearviewRearview female recruitment reading and checking resume in hands interviewing and hiring woman candidate for jo\u0438 near laptop in office with glass windows \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Olga Rolenko\/ Getty)<\/p>\n

\"\"From April 2027, retirement savings will be included when the tax bill for those inheriting money is calculated (Photo: Malte Mueller\/Getty)<\/p>\n

The pay<\/p>\n

The salary van vary from \u00a325 to \u00a350k, but you can earn around \u00a3100k depending on commission.<\/p>\n

\nJobs to switch to in your fifties\n<\/p>\n

\"MaleSome estate agents give high valuations to drum up business (Photo: Monkey Business Images\/Getty\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n

Estate agent<\/p>\n

It offers flexible hours and weekend staff can earn \u00a315 per hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Training<\/p>\n

This form of coaching for businesses\u00a0could earn around \u00a3250 to \u00a31,000 per day.<\/p>\n

\"portraitCaption: portrait of confident senior business man holding digital tablet in modern office
Photographer: zeljkosantrac
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

\"A(Photo: Getty).<\/p>\n

Sales<\/p>\n

In the lower end,\u00a0a sales rep can make \u00a330k and on the higher end \u00a350-60k, plus commission.<\/p>\n

Why coaching is a good option<\/p>\n

Coaching is incredibly varied and can be anything from\u00a0career coaching, to\u00a0confidence and leadership coaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As it is an unregulated industry, you don\u2019t need qualifications but the more reputable option is the International Coaching Federation.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a great career option for older people because clients genuinely\u00a0value your wealth of life experience.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s flexible, scalable, and you can start doing it part-time alongside another role.<\/p>\n

It could make you anything from \u00a3200 an hour, all the way up to \u00a3500 p\/h+.<\/p>\n

\"staffEven though the NHS Pension scheme is envied by many for its generosity, those working for the NHS facing financial struggles are choosing to opt out (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Consulting<\/p>\n

This can be across HR, operations, marketing, finance, people strategy or project management, as it\u2019s varied.<\/p>\n

A huge number of businesses now want expertise without having to hire full-time staff so there is a big job market for\u00a0freelance consultants.<\/p>\n

Price on value, not hours \u2013 if your advice saves a client \u00a3200k, charging \u00a3150 an hour undersells what you\u2019re worth.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

\u2018My family have never been so close to a fire\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI was on my way back to my call-out base, which is my home. En route, I was mobilised to Ingrebourne Hill. And then I saw my address on the tip sheet,\u201d the 54-year-old told The i Paper.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever in my whole career have my family been so close to a fire. So yes, there was the added stress of a fire, but also making sure my family was okay.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had my fire brigade head on, so I thought \u2018I will deal with this\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The flames ravaging Ingrebourne Hill came within about 30 feet of his house. His wife, daughter and two dogs had been evacuated, along with 35 nearby residents.<\/p>\n

Seventy firefighters from 10 crews fought back the flames, some from residents\u2019 gardens, after the fire leapt over rivers and onto 25-ft-tall reed beds in marshland. It incinerated around 10 acres of land.<\/p>\n

\"AroundThe fire on Ingrebourne Hill, Rainham, destroyed around 10 acres of grassland (Photo: Councillor Luke Barry)<\/p>\n

\u2018We squashed the fire from all angles\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI took on the left-hand flank with another officer, and we fought the fires back in the reed beds,\u201d Strand said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs it was travelling round the left-hand flank, it was getting very close to the housing. We pincerned the fire and squashed it from all angles, and the crews did a fantastic job of stopping that fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I thanked them all, actually, because it was my house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Strand in the Harold Hill fire station watch room. He is based in central London, but is spending most of his time dealing with fires in outer London boroughs like Havering (Photo: Joe Duggan)<\/p>\n

Strand was speaking from Harold Hill fire station, in the London borough of Havering, which is deemed London\u2019s wildfire hotspot.<\/p>\n

Shortly after a reporter arrived at the station, the seven-strong team from Green Watch shift leapt into action as a callout alarm sounded.<\/p>\n

Minutes later, a 4\u00d74 terrain support vehicle (TSV), specially designed to tackle grassfires, was deployed to a wildfire in Romford, where three engines had already been dispatched. Smoke from one fire can be detected at the base.<\/p>\n

Strand, a wildfire support officer, estimates about 80 per cent of his calls are now for grassfires. He is regularly deployed back to east London from his permanent base at Dowgate Fire Station, in the City of London. This summer, he has been \u201cabsolutely flat out\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s one incident after another\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve definitely seen an increase in the amount of grassfires that are starting to spread across and are affecting property,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m finding myself going from one incident to another incident to another incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was the Wennington fire. During that period, yes, we were busy, but I don\u2019t recall being as busy with the amount of incidents that we\u2019re having across London.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2022, on the hottest day ever recorded in the UK, an inferno at the Havering village of Wennington destroyed 18 homes.<\/p>\n

\"\"Firefighters from Harold Hill are scrambled on callout as London\u2019s searingly hot summer sees wildfires continue to ignite across the capital (Photo: The i Paper)<\/p>\n

Strand was among firefighters deployed to battle the blaze that caused devastation described as \u201capocalyptic\u201d at the time.<\/p>\n

This summer, tinder-dry conditions continue to fuel further blazes.<\/p>\n

During the first weekend in August, London firefighters attended over 1,460 incidents, 423 of them grassfires. One of them was another blaze on Ingrebourne Hill.<\/p>\n

From 2022 to 2025, there were 6,000 grassfires in outer London, three times more than inner London \u2013 Havering had the highest number of any borough, 536.<\/p>\n

Some LFB officers have also volunteered to support brigades tackling recent wildfires in Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and the Isle of Wight.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re OK at the moment \u2013 but it\u2019s exhausting\u2019<\/p>\n

Strand, a veteran of Grenfell and the 2011 Swinley Forest fire, said fighting blazes of such intensity and so often is \u201cexhausting\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"InOne of the London Fire Brigade\u2019s 4\u00d74 terrain support vehicles (TSV), designed to tackle wildfires (Photo: Joe Duggan)<\/p>\n

But despite the summer spike in wildfires, Strand says there is no impact on the response to other callouts, with units from fire stations across London moved to cover teams sent out.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re managing the brigade as a whole. We haven\u2019t run out of resources as such. We\u2019re okay at the moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In recent years, LFB has added to its armoury of tools to combat wildfires, with TSVs capable of veering off-road, equipped with 475 litres of water and backpack blowers, like leaf blowers, to push back flames.<\/p>\n

LFB\u2019s \u201choley hoses\u201d, another recent addition, create a sheet of water more than six feet high. Officers have also been sent to Morocco, Spain and South Africa for wildfire training.<\/p>\n

To combat heat exhaustion, firefighters have rehydration packs, while LFB has been working with local authorities and farmers to create fire breaks in rural urban interface areas.<\/p>\n

But the threat this summer is constant. And with no sign of a let-up in the heat, and grassland \u201ctinder dry\u201d, Strand urged people not to have barbecues or fireworks in open areas and to dispose of rubbish and glass responsibly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWennington heightened everybody\u2019s awareness in the country. The thing is, it gets forgotten over time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In 31 years on the job, London Fire Brigade (LFB) station commander Alex Strand has fought some of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":101214,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[26],"tags":[4832,27,4327,150,24848],"class_list":["post-101213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-london","tag-heatwave","tag-london","tag-london-fire-brigade","tag-weather","tag-wildfires"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/117076192131546143","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101213"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101213\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}