Troops learn firefighting lessons

The West Bromwich factory blaze tested the army

By Jane Peel BBC correspondent in Birmingham

The armed forces covering for the striking firefighters in the West Midlands have discovered waiting for call-outs can test the nerves.

It has been a strange strike for the troops covering this patch of England.

On day one, a few hours after the civilian firefighters walked out, the military crews were in demand when a disused factory in West Bromwich went up in flames.

It's rather like any war... 90% of routine and 10% of high excitement

It was a massive challenge as 18 Green Goddesses and red fire engines were called in.

Eleven hours later the last of the troops were able to pull out.

Then, nothing. Well, not exactly nothing.

It was more a case of routine responses to small incidents or false alarms.

Boredom factor

Towards the end of the strike, the troops could probably guess what was coming.

If it was breakfast-time or early evening, it would be a toaster or chip pan fire.

In the hours of darkness, it would be abandoned cars set ablaze.

Leave has been cancelled for troops

And sometimes, they would just wait watching television in their temporary barracks.

Lt Col Philip Napier, of the Royal Regiment of Wales, put it this way: "It's rather like any war or any military operation - 90% of routine and 10% of high excitement.

"Not much different to what we're used to, to be honest".

The Commanding Officer for the West Midlands said his men and women felt much the same.

Boredom easily sets on a 12-hour shift without a single call-out. Some soldiers privately complain about the striking firemen.

For soldiers earning £12,500 a year, the idea that firefighters should demand £30,000 for what they see as "sitting around doing nothing" is incomprehensible.

Basic cover

There is, however, a growing confidence among the crews.

They are now comfortable handling the Green Goddesses.

Each day throughout the strike more troops have been trained to use red fire engines.

Troops have been at the ready

Lessons are being learned with every incident.

Lt Col Napier said the West Bromwich blaze showed they had not understood the complexity of dealing with an enormous fire.

The command and control of 18 appliances, methods of communication, and co-ordination between emergency services proved difficult. Changes have been made as a result.

"We are never going to be professional firemen," he said.

"We haven't set out to achieve that, and any further strikes beyond this one will continue to be a challenge for us.

"We will continue to provide basic cover.

"That cover probably is better now than it was eight days ago, but I don't want to overestimate our capability."

There have been lessons too for the joint control centres.

Here the police take the 999 calls, a senior fire officer decides what, if anything to send, and a military commander deploys what is needed.

Captain Thomas Charles, of the Welsh Guards, is one of the commanders at the Warwickshire joint control centre.

He said initially there were teething problems, including confusion over how the "assets" would be deployed.

But these were quickly resolved with table-top exercises.

Public praised

The public have played their part in making the strike response a success.

Warwickshire's Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Graham Holden, said the number of calls was down for fires and road accidents.

"The public have listened to the fire safety messages and that's helped drive down calls.

"After the strike, we've got to look at this.

"Why is this a success story and why can't we carry this on?"

The troops are hoping there will be no more strikes, with many having come straight from a six-month tour of duty in Bosnia.

Their planned leave was cancelled.

"It's not fair on the wives and children," said Lance Corporal Andrew Budd, of the Welsh Guards.

"I've seen my wife for two or three weeks since January.

"Who knows when we are going to get leave next?"