Fire brigade denies cover claims

Green Goddess locations have yet to be confirmed

Cornwall's fire brigade has denied union claims that only six Green Goddess fire trucks will be available in the county during strike action by firefighters.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in the county have said only a limited number of the vehicles will be available.

The county's chief fire officer, Mick Howell, said the union's figures were not true.

But he confirmed that the brigade does not yet know exactly how many Green Goddesses there are or where they will be stationed.

'Limited'

Cornwall County Fire Brigade has a fleet of 43 fire engines and numerous other appliances, including two aerial ladders.

We'll determine exactly how many Green Goddesses there are and where they're distributed

Mick Howell,
Cornwall chief fire officer

Mike Tremellin of the FBU said: "What we know of to date is that there's a limited number of Green Goddesses that will be situated along the length of Cornwall.

"But the forces are going to have a limited amount of equipment and training."

One Green Goddess, along with a police escort, is already in place at Truro Territorial Army headquarters.

The others, according to the FBU, will be based at police stations or territorial army bases in Camborne, Falmouth, Newquay, Bodmin and Penzance.

The FBU also claims there will be three breathing apparatus units for Cornwall, based in vans.

It also said a single crash rescue unit will be based in Bodmin, also in a van.

Refining arrangements

Refuting the FBU claims Mick Howell said: "I'm not quite sure where they get their information from.

"What I can tell you is that I'm still in discussions with the military as to what the needs are of Cornwall, given the resources we have from the fire brigade itself.

"We will refine those arrangements between now and Tuesday morning.

"And on the basis of our need and what's available to the military themselves, we'll determine exactly how many Green Goddesses there are and where they're distributed."

The industrial action is being held as part of a campaign by the FBU for a pay rise of 40%.