Firefighters begin strike action

Troops are using more red fire engines in this strike

Firefighters across the United Kingdom have begun the latest strike in their long-running pay dispute. Thousands of military personnel are again providing emergency cover during the 24-hour stoppage. They'll be equipped with nearly 180 modern, red fire engines.

STRIKE SCHEDULE

21 January: 24 hours

28 January: 48 hours

1 February: 48 hours

The Fire Brigades' Union insists that it still wants a negotiated settlement, but one that is not based on binding preconditions. However, the government has condemned the strike, saying it will achieve nothing. The deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, warned it posed "a danger to public safety".

Breakfast's Luisa Baldini is at the territorial army base in Dudley. She said:

The number of red goddesses has been doubled - ninety more have been made available bringing the total to 177.

Where did the fire strike go wrong?

More equipment has been bought - 30 thermal imaging cameras which weren't available to the army last time. What has remained the same is the number of service men and women - 19,000 will be manning the red and green goddesses...

The MoD is adamant the troop deployment to the gulf will not be affected by those working here, if you look at the latest MoD figures from 2001...

The British forces number around 200,000 uniformed servicemen and women of whom about 110,00 are in the army. We heard yesterday that around 26,000 British troops are being deployed to the Gulf...

That may bring the British military strength in the Gulf to around 30,000 - which the government says still leaves plenty of service personnel available...

Breakfast spoke to the President of the Fire Chiefs' Association: Jeff Ord.

Click here to watch our interview with Jeff Ord.

And we heard from firefighter Duncan Glover and his wife Lorraine, who's a nurse.

Fire safety tips during the strike.

Put all matches and lighters out of the reach of children

Put a fireguard in front of fires and heaters

If you smoke, make sure you have a deep ashtray and that cigarettes are properly extinguished

Do not smoke in bed

Don't leave cooking unattended

Never fill a chip pan more than one third full of fat

Keep bonfires well away from fences and hedges

Make sure candles are stable and do not leave them unattended

Check around the house for fire hazards before going to bed

Fit smoke alarms, check they are working and test them regularly

For fire information contact 0845 0800 723.