Warning as firefighters strikeWarning as firefighters strike

FIRE chiefs are warning Rotherham residents that it will take longer to respond to emergencies tomorrow as firefighters were due to go on strike this morning.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union were expected to walk out for 24 hours from 7am tomorrow across England in an ongoing dispute with the government over what they say are “unworkable” pension changes.

South Yorkshire’s chief fire officer, James Courtney, warned that response times would suffer.

FBU members have staged 66 strikes since the bitter row broke out two years ago.

The union objects to plans to make firefighters work longer and pay more into their pensions to get less in retirement.

Negotiations between both sides they have been unable to resolve their differences, despite agreements or progress being reached in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Fire chiefs have recruited contingency firefighters to provide emergency cover across South Yorkshire but there will be fewer engines on the roads than normal, leading to a delay in response times.

Mr Courtney said: “In a genuine emergency, we will get there, but it will take us longer than normal.

“With that in mind, now is the ideal time to test your smoke alarms and make sure you have an escape plan for getting out of your house quickly and safely in the event of a fire.”

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Government ministers have ignored three written requests in the last few weeks by the union to meet to try to resolve this dispute.

"They are quick to call us militant and yet it’s them who still refuse to talk to us when we remain ready to meet and negotiate at any time.”

Firefighters from all across the UK are attending a rally in Westminster to coincide with the walkout in a “No More Lies” protest.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “It is regrettable that the Fire Brigades Union has announced this strike action, the aim of which is unclear.

“Pension regulations were laid recently in parliament after extensive consultation and amendment.

“We have been crystal clear that firefighters aged 55 or over who fail a fitness test through no fault of their own and cannot regain fitness with remedial help and are not eligible for an ill-health pension or where a fire authority cannot provide reasonable adjustments or a redeployment opportunity, should be awarded an unreduced pension.”