FIREFIGHTERS across the county will take part in a four-day national strike this evening.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service staff will join the strike called by the Fire Bridges’ Union after a national dispute over pension reforms.

Firefighters will take part in the industrial strike from 6pm tonight to 6pm on Tuesday, November 4.

But chief fire officer Dave Etheridge said cover will be in place across the county to ensure all 999 calls are responded to.

He added: “I want to reassure the county’s public that every emergency call made to their Fire and Rescue Service during the latest scheduled national strike periods will be responded to.

“We have a cover plan in place which we have utilised well during previous FBU-called strikes and there is an agreement with the FBU locally that striking firefighters will return to work if an incident occurred which required a significant amount of firefighters to attend.”

Mr Etheridge said there will be fewer fire engines available during the strike and encouraged residents to take steps to ensure they are safe.

He said residents should check their smoke alarms are working, ensure electrical sockets are not overloaded and check tyre pressures.

Safety messages and advice can be found online at 365alive.co.uk

Our top stories

 

 

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.