Brigade prepares for further strikes

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced that its members will take strike action again next weekend, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December, both from 18.00 to 22.00. These will be the fifth and sixth strikes since the end of September.

The FBU and government are in dispute over the Government’s reforms to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.

London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, said: “Our contingency arrangements have been tested in the four strikes that have so far taken place.  We will be putting them in place again.  

“I hope that the government and FBU are able to resolve this dispute soon in order that the Brigade can return to business as usual.”

As in previous strikes, the Brigade will have 27 fire engines based at strategic locations and contingency crews will deal with emergencies across London during the four hour strike.

The Brigade said it will be launching a safety campaign in the lead-up to the weekend of strikes, encouraging people to take care to prevent festive fires.

Ends

Notes to editors

During the strike firefighters will attend:

• Serious fires –  like those in Londoners’ homes – confirmed by a 999 call
• Fires that involve gas cylinders or hazardous substances.
• Explosions
• Vehicle fires or boat fires
• Fires at railway stations and rail and road tunnels or fires involving people in underground tunnels
• Aircraft or train crashes
• Road traffic collisions
• Collapsed structures

During the strike firefighters may not be able to attend:

• Grass fires and other outdoor fires such as trees, hedges or undergrowth alight.
• Rubbish fires (including fires in bins and skips) and fires on open ground.
• Animal rescues (these will be referred to the RSPCA).
• People shut in lifts (owners of buildings are responsible for ensuring arrangements are in place to release people from faulty lifts).
• Flooding
• Automatic fire alarms – a fire engine will only be sent when the fire has been confirmed by a 999 call.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced that its members will take strike action again next weekend, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December, both from 18.00 to 22.00. These will be the fifth and sixth strikes since the end of September.

The FBU and government are in dispute over the Government’s reforms to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.

London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, said: “Our contingency arrangements have been tested in the four strikes that have so far taken place.  We will be putting them in place again.  

“I hope that the government and FBU are able to resolve this dispute soon in order that the Brigade can return to business as usual.”

As in previous strikes, the Brigade will have 27 fire engines based at strategic locations and contingency crews will deal with emergencies across London during the four hour strike.

The Brigade said it will be launching a safety campaign in the lead-up to the weekend of strikes, encouraging people to take care to prevent festive fires.

Ends

Notes to editors

During the strike firefighters will attend:

• Serious fires –  like those in Londoners’ homes – confirmed by a 999 call
• Fires that involve gas cylinders or hazardous substances.
• Explosions
• Vehicle fires or boat fires
• Fires at railway stations and rail and road tunnels or fires involving people in underground tunnels
• Aircraft or train crashes
• Road traffic collisions
• Collapsed structures

During the strike firefighters may not be able to attend:

• Grass fires and other outdoor fires such as trees, hedges or undergrowth alight.
• Rubbish fires (including fires in bins and skips) and fires on open ground.
• Animal rescues (these will be referred to the RSPCA).
• People shut in lifts (owners of buildings are responsible for ensuring arrangements are in place to release people from faulty lifts).
• Flooding
• Automatic fire alarms – a fire engine will only be sent when the fire has been confirmed by a 999 call.