Fire service warns public to take care during strike action

The fire service has warned people to take extra care during strike action tomorrow (Wednesday).
Firefighters will strike tomorrow.Firefighters will strike tomorrow.
Firefighters will strike tomorrow.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union will be out on strike on Wednesday afternoon from 12pm to 4pm, as part of an ongoing dispute over pension reforms.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) have said there will be a reduced level of emergency response during the strike, but it has put in place a range of contingency measure to provide emergency cover across the county,

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But it is also warning the public to take extra care during the strike.

Dave Walton, Assistant Chief Officer for WYFRS said: “We have an established contingency plan developed as part of our standard business continuity

arrangements. This plan has recently been exercised and tested using a variety of scenarios and we are confident in our ability to provide fire cover, albeit on a restricted basis, to the communities and businesses of West Yorkshire.”

The service has issued advice for the public including:

- Don’t leave cooking unattended and never cook after drinking alcohol;

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- Never smoke in bed and always dispose of cigarettes carefully;

- Never leave electrical items switched on overnight and don’t overload sockets;

- Drive within the speed limit, avoid distractions at the wheel, stay patient and always wear your seatbelt;

- Ensure you have smoke detectors fitted in your home and test them every week.

The service said that 999 services will be operating as normal and that in an emergency the public should still call 999.