Beds Fire and Rescue strike

The Fire Brigades Union has announced that the its members in fire and rescue services across England will be on a continuous nationwide strike from 9am on Tuesday, December 9, till 9am on Wednesday, December 10.

This is the latest in a series of strikes over the past 15 months.

The FBU is in dispute with the government over firefighter pension arrangements.

Safety advice is available at: www.bedsfire.com

Bedfordshire’s chief fire officer, Paul Fuller said: “Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service does have well practiced plans to continue to deliver services during the periods of FBU strike action, based on the previous strikes over the past year, and these plans will again be put into place.

“This is a national dispute between the FBU and the Government; however, there is always a local impact when strikes are called, as there will be a reduced service for the community, compared to normal.

“Therefore, we will prioritise any 999 calls we receive, so that we can respond to those with a potential threat to life and we will still have qualified firefighters and officers responding to emergencies.”

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Glen Ranger highlighted the need for the public to take extra care as the latest strike will take place in the build up to Christmas.

He said: “With Christmas approaching, the potential for fires in the home increases, with additional combustible materials in the home – and the use of candles, Christmas tree lights etc. This means that we will need the support and help of the public to minimise the risk of fire and other emergencies.

“We urge the public to use common sense, and minimise the potential for fire to start in the home, and take extra care when driving on the county’s roads.”