Firefighters plan second strike

Firefighters plan to take part in a second strike on Saturday night (October 19).

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is involved in a dispute with the Government over changes to firefighter pensions and has called for a second round of national strike action between 6.30pm and 11.30pm.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) has made a contingency plan to minimise disruption in case the strike goes ahead.

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A spokesperson for WSFRS said if the action went ahead the Crawley area would be covered by firefighters not involved in the strike. However, the number of firefighters available will be lower than usual.

People have been asked to take simple safety steps such as checking smoke alarms, not leaving cooking or candles unattended, and extinguishing cigarettes properly.

A spokesperson for WSFRS said: “We urge residents, drivers, and businesses to take extra care, but to still dial 999 if we are needed for a genuine emergency.

“We will need to prioritise resources to calls where there is a risk to human life but we are still very much here if you need us.

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“We hope that national strike action can be averted through further talks but please be reassured that WSFRS will be ready to respond if it does take place.”

Find fire and road safety information at www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire