999 calls flood in as firefighters go on strike

A YORKSHIRE fire service was “exceptionally busy” dealing with 999 calls with half its normal complement of engines during a two-hour strike by firefighters.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was called out to 13 incidents between 6am and 8am yesterday, four times the number normally expected for this period.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) across the country walked out for two hours, the third stoppage in recent weeks. The union fears firefighters will lose their jobs because of changes to the retirement age.

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The strike meant 30 fire engines were available in West Yorkshire compared with the normal 54, with “contingency crews” left to deal with incidents including several crashes.

Firefighters were called out to a crash involving three vehicles on the M62, a man with his hand trapped in machinery in Bradford and a kitchen fire in Leeds where the 999 call came in 16 minutes before the start of the strike.

Assistant Chief Officer Dave Walton said: “The kitchen fire was quickly extinguished and a good deal of cutting away and damping down was required. Firefighters who were expected to strike remained at the scene and have been praised for doing so.

“The fact that crews remained at the scene of this flat fire throughout the period of strike action is a tribute to their professionalism and commitment.”

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The region’s three other fire and rescue services attended only one call each during the strike. Andy Trowsdale, of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I would like to thank the public for heeding our advice and keeping the number of emergency calls we received to a minimum.”

Humberside’s service received no 999 calls between 6am and 8am but was called to a boat house fire in Hull at 5.30am. Firefighters stayed at the scene until after 6am.

As firefighters across the country walked out yesterday, the FBU told the Government steps towards resolving the dispute were “simple and achievable”.