FIREFIGHTERS' STRIKE

Martin Harris spoke out after this week's pre-budget report revealed that the Government would need to borrow £20bn more in the next two years than the Chancellor predicted.

Mr Harris, whose brother Kevin is a firefighter in Droitwich and whose nephew works in the Birmingham area, queried why council tax shot up to fund new police officers, but would not be permitted for fire crews.

"There was a TV poll not long ago asking people if they would be prepared to pay an extra £10 council tax a year to pay for the firefighters' pay increase," said the 45-year-old.

"The majority of people said no, but from April this year, around £20 was added to the council tax to fund 300 new police officers.

In court

"That was forced upon us. It was not voluntary, and if we don't pay it then we end up in court."

He revealed that his work with Royal Mail offered him the chance to earn more than his brother ever could with the Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade.

"People are just not thinking about what firefighters do. They offer a very skilled life-saving service and these people really deserve this rise.

"My brother believes he should have a pay rise.

"We've got a first class fire service, but if 10,000 jobs are cut as has been threatened, it will be second-rate.

"People want fit firefighters to carry people out of buildings and run up and down stairs - not someone who has already worked an eight-hour day."

RAF gives impressive display of stand-in techniques

STAND-IN emergency crews in Worcester have been visited by Herefordshire and Worcestershire's Lord Lieutenant Michael Brinton.

RAF personnel responding to emergencies during this week's firefighters strike - due to end at 9am tomorrow morning - demonstrated the equipment used by them during 999 calls when Mr Brinton visited the TA centres in Worcester and Kidderminster earlier this week.

The Lord Lieutenant also watched as the crews demonstrated the training exercises used to prepare for emergencies, during his visits which took place on Tuesday.

Alec Mackie, spokesman for Hereford and Worcester fire brigade, said the Lord Lieutenant had been extremely impressed with what he had seen.

"Mr Brinton welcomed the opportunity to see the joint operations control centre and to meet and talk to the staff," he said.

"He was very interested and impressed with what he saw, and was also impressed with the attitude of the military personnel that he met and the level of training that he saw during the day's visit."

County soldiers shipped over to stand in

WORCESTERSHIRE soldiers performing firefighting duties are remaining in high spirits.

Members of the Queen's Royal Hussars regiment, currently based in Germany, have been tackling blazes in Manchester during the eight-day strike.

The cavalry regiment has a large number of soldiers recruited from the county.

"They're enjoying being in England and doing a job where the public appreciates you," said Lieutenant Nick Cowley.

"The adrenaline's pumping but what is difficult is the uncertainty of not knowing how long it will go on for."

Around 300 members of the regiment, which has served most recently in Kosovo, are spread across five areas of Greater Manchester.

Up until yesterday they had received more than 350 calls during the walkout - more than anywhere else in the country.

During the 48-hour strike, earlier this month, the crews attended a fire in a fireworks factory. In this current strike they have attended a massive tyre fire.

"So far it couldn't have gone better," said Lt Cowley.

"We've had big stuff to deal with, but while we don't want fires, it's a good chance for the troops to cut their teeth.

"They're getting more experience with each shout."

The troops are sharing 18 Green Goddesses across the Greater Manchester area.

They are supported by two Breathing Apparatus Rescue Teams (BART) at each station, which are manned by the Royal Navy.

Arrest threat for strike-breakers

POLICE have refused to rule out the possibility that firefighters who cross their picket lines to save lives could be arrested.

Union leaders for the FBU have become increasingly concerned that striking firefighters could face prosecution for driving without insurance should they respond to an emergency.

The comments came after Alec Mackie, spokesman for Hereford and Worcester fire brigade, said striking firecrews were not covered by personal and public insurance during the strike.

Allen Peach, spokesman for West Mercia police, refused to be drawn on whether the constabulary would or would not press charges if striking firefighters drove a tender to save a life.

He insisted that the force could not comment on a "hypothetical" situation, but added that if a complaint was made, then police officers would investigate.

"If any circumstances were brought to our attention which require investigation, we will deal with it in accordance with the prevailing circumstances," he said.

"We cannot be any more specific as there could be all sorts of issues and circumstances which may or may not demand action to be taken."

But FBU secretary for Hereford and Worcester Steve Laugher remained defiant and insisted striking firefighters would risk prosecution to save lives.

"I believe firefighters would be prepared to face the possibility of arrest in order to take a tender to a situation were a life is in danger," he said.

"This situation is farcical and I would urge brigade chiefs to make arrangements to ensure firefighters will be properly insured and covered if the decision is made to cross the picket line to help someone."

But Mr Mackie said today that, although firefighters who took emergency vehicles straight from the picket line would not be insured, if firecrews reported in as "available" before taking the vehicle out, they would be.

"If striking firefighters notify the brigade control that they are available and turned out to incidents as and when necessary, then crews will be insured," he said.

"If, however, they take a unit out without notifying the brigade, or go out against the brigade's instructions if the incident is already deemed under control, then they will not.

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Bedroom fire tackled

A BEDROOM fire broke out in Worcester Road, Malvern, yesterday after a mattress caught fire at around 9pm.

Retained firefighters from Upton-upon-Severn and a Green Goddess from Worcester was called to the house.

Crews praised for slick action

AMBULANCE crews today praised the "expertise and professionalism" of stand-in emergency crews and retained firefighters who freed a driver trapped under a Mercedes lorry.

The victim, who was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, suffered serious injuries on the A442 at Cutnall Green at 8.50pm yesterday.

Two first response paramedic cars, a retained firecrew from Pershore, as well as a rescue equipment support team from Worcester, attended the scene.

Police closed both carriageways - near the Chequers Pub - allowing rescue crews to use hydraulic cutting equipment to free the male driver of the red Ford Escort.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman Alec Mackie said ambulance crews contacted stand-in rescue crews after the crash and praised them for their professionalism and expertise.

"Ambulance staff said they were very impressed with the way those attending dealt with the situation, which was a very serious one," he said.

"They also commented on the effectiveness of the equipment used."

Staff at Worcestershire Royal Hospital today said the driver was not in a "life threatening" condition.

Kim Stain, Worcester police spokeswoman, said a lorry driver had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

She appealed for witnesses to contact PC Craig Collins on 01905 723888 quoting c/645919 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Union donation

GOVERNMENT workers in Herefordshire have vowed to support striking firefighters by making a £250 donation.

Members of the local government branch of UNISON at Herefordshire agreed at its meeting on Wednesday to make the donation to the local Fire Brigade Union Strike Fund.

Eddie Clark, branch secretary for the union, said it deplored the "intransigent" stance taken by the Government in opposition to a justified claim by a group of dedicated public service workers.

He pointed out that the pay rise firefighters wanted was the same as that which Prime Minister Tony Blair awarded himself after the last election.

"UNISON believes that public service workers should stand together to ensure that the public receives a qualitative service," said Mr Clark.

"Consequently, we will stand with the firefighters and support them in whichever way possible to enable them to achieve their full claim."

The cheque will be donated to the FBU at Hereford Fire Station this afternoon.

I feel I'm worth pay rise

It is with a great deal of sadness I feel I have to write this letter to you.

I have been a firefighter for the past 24 years and can say I have been proud to be part of a service that has a high degree of respect from the communities we are proud to serve.

Before entering the fire service I served six years in the armed forces and have some experience from both sides of this dispute.

I would, however, like - through your pages - to thank the communities for showing their support by sounding their horns when passing picket lines and handing gifts and cash to pickets throughout Britain.

I would also like to assure the public at large that if at any time we know of a life-threatening situation anywhere, the firefighters will break their pickets and respond to that call.

But, nine times out of ten, we are not informed by our working officers or the police control of life-threatening situations.

It is with a great deal of anger and amazement I have had to sit back and listen to the spin the fire service ministers and our country's leaders have spun with regards to our proud service.

Yes, I will agree the armed forces are carrying out emergency cover while the dispute is ongoing - the Government and the leaders of our country say they are carrying out a fantastic job in covering the regular fire service.

But the armed services are doing just that - carrying out emergency cover. The armed forces personnel are saying, on all the networks and through the newspapers, about the boredom in between fire calls.

It would be interesting to see how they would cope if they had to take on this role operationally.

We are not the cast of London's Burning and sit around the table all day drinking tea and coffee and playing musical instruments, as shown on the TV. We have a commitment to our communities. We carry out:

- Technical and theoretical training on a daily basis.

- Community fire safety

- Key stage one and two fire safety in the home to children in schools

- Home safety visits

- Fire safety inspections

- Hydrant inspections

- Routines on equipment (daily checks)

- Talks to outside bodies i.e. Guides, Scouts, etc

Those are just some of our daily routines. During those visits we may be called on to:

- Fires

- Chemical incidents

- Road traffic accidents

- Special services

- Animal rescues

- Railway disasters

- Aircraft disasters

It is not so long ago the fire service had to attend some of the worst railway disasters this country has ever witnessed.

Was it not so long ago the fire service had to attend the King's Cross fire?

Was it not our ministers, at that time, who congratulated the fire service for their professionalism and dedication to duty?

It is with a great deal of horror I listened to the spin which our so-called Labour Government leaders knock our profession, and the lies and mis-information they are giving out.

This country is on a high state of emergency at this time with the terrorist threat, and before I am accused of being on strike with this threat in the air, we wouldn't be if the minister responsible had got up and addressed the issues.

The same minister has said that cuts to the fire service will ensure that the funding of any pay rise would be found.

Maybe our RFU colleagues had better prepare themselves and their communities with the prospect of their stations closing because it is not cost effective.

The FBU is, at this time, fighting to save the jobs of the FBU members. The RFU (Retained Firefighters Union) have a no strike policy, so will have to accept any closures without question.

Or better still, as these retained firefighters have full-time jobs anyway, why do they not volunteer their services for their small communities for no reward?

It was just over 14 months ago a terrorist attack devastated part of New York City by destroying the World Trade Centre.

Firefighters and the other emergency services were held in high regard, but the leaders of our country have very short memories.

This country showed they cared for our cousins across the pond by donating millions of pounds to the families of the victims of these attacks.

Yes, a terrorist attack can happen anywhere, anytime, and this Government wants to cut the fire service to the bone.

There again, we are not to worry if this ever happens here - we will cope because these highly paid ministers say we will, and we will pull them from the rubble, just as we did in Brighton. Why? Because we are professional and our first priority is to save lives, even if it is the ministers who want to cut our resources.

I have two daughters serving in the Army and, at the time of writing, are not involved in the forces' fire cover.

They have been told not to discuss the fire service with anyone.

My daughter and son-in-law have been told they are on standby for the war in Iraq.

These are worrying times for my wife and myself; this Government is quite willing to send our children to war.

A war, which I am sure, will cost billions of pounds, which will inevitably cost the lives of our service people and will be funded by the British taxpayer.

However, they are not prepared to spend a few million pounds to save lives by ensuring there is adequate fire cover throughout Britain.

Is that not ironic?

I feel, and I am sure I talk for my colleagues across the length and breadth of our nation, when I say yes, I feel I am worth a substantial pay rise.

A pay rise that reflects the danger we endure on a day-to-day basis, and rewards the skill of the firefighter, without the job losses this Government is requesting.

Yes, I also agree the nurses and the ambulance service personnel deserve better rewards for their profession, but this dispute is not about them, it's about us, the British firefighter.