Firefighters to strike again

Firefighters have just finished another strike in a row over pensions and working conditions. It took place between 6am and 8am this morning.

The strike was their third in recent weeks, and was because of a dispute with the Government over pensions.

Firefighters are going on strike between 6am and 8am this morning over a pensions row with the government.

The Fire Brigades Union say the dispute relates to pension changes which could see firefighters having to work beyond the current retirement age of 55. The union says some fire fighters are not fit enough to work beyond that age.

Firefighters have issued safety tips to help keep people safe at home ahead of tomorrow's strike action - the second walk-out this weekend.

After Friday's four-hour industrial action, crews will strike again tomorrow between 6am and 8am.

The Service had eight fire engines spread out through the region to help with emergency responses. Crews dealt with four incidents from six calls. These included two false alarms to bonfires.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service dealt with five emergencies during the strike. These included an unattended bonfire in Warsop, a fire in a recycling bin in Netherfield and controlled burning in Mansfield Woodhouse.

Non-striking fire fighters attended 11 incidents during the strike last night:

Rowley Regis: rubbish fire

Hockley: two fire engines to a false alarm

Sutton Coldfield: false alarm

Coventry: false alarm at the Belgrade Theatre

Wolverhampton: small fire caused by food being left unattended in the grill

Coventry: three fire engines to a severe house fire caused by a gas leak.

Balsall Heath: one fire engine to alarms in a block of flats

Ladywood: one fire engine to a false alarm

Sutton Coldfield: one fire engine to a false alarm in a residential care home

Dudley: three fire engines to alarm panel in apartment block showing smoke on the 15th floor, false alarm

Sutton Coldfield: one fire engine to fire alarms at Gracechurch Shopping Centre, false alarm

During the Force's five and a half hour strike last night West Midlands Fire Service received 34 calls, 11 of which needed non-striking fire fighters to attend.

These included a rubbish fire, unattended food catching fire in a grill, a house evacutation caused by a gas leak and several false alarms.

The Force received two emergency calls during the strike - normally at this time of the week they would have around nine calls.

Around 10:00 a crew from Longton went to a chimney fire - they used a thermal imaging camera to check for hotspots.

Fire Control in Stone also received a 999 call from a householder wanting advice after a carbon monoxide alarm went off.

During the strike the Force received five 999 calls.