Navy takes command

However, Commanding Officer Simon Hardern, who is commander of HMS Kent, also warned that his men could not provide the same level of service as the brigade itself.

'We have an excellent team standing by,' said Cdr Hardern, speaking just one hour before the 6pm Wednesday night walk-out. 'The majority of them are Navy-based, but this has been an excellent tri-service operation also involving the army and the air force.

'Lots of work has gone into this and we're very confident that we have the ability to cope with almost any situation. However, we cannot totally replicate what the fire brigade normally does.'

During the strikes, emergency 999 calls will go through to the usual handling centre. Any call for the fire service will be routed through to the police command centre in Lewes, where a duty Navy officer will decide who can deal best with the situation.

If there are retained firefighters in the area, they will be called in. If there is no local station available, a Green Goddess military fire engine will be sent out, along with a BART (breathing apparatus rescue team) squad if necessary.

Cutting

'The BART units are equipped with the very latest breathing and cutting apparatus which is as good as and in some cases better than the fire brigade's own,' said Cdr Hardern.

However, he explained, the Green Goddess is a much slower vehicle than the fire engine. He added: 'Its top speed is around 30 miles per hour, so we estimate it will take us about 20 per cent longer to get to jobs over the fire brigade.'

There are 369 people providing cover at eight temporary service fire stations in Sussex. Each station has two Green Goddesses. There are also eight BART squads and two rescue support teams, which have brand new cutting equipment and lifting gear bought specially by the office of the deputy prime minister.

East Sussex has 11 retained fire stations, but retained firemen are likely to operate only within their individual town or parish.

'My crew does fire fighting on a daily basis on ship,' said Cdr Hardern. 'They have all done a five week, very intensive training course the best possible training available in the time we've had.

'They have practiced saving lives in rehearsal situations and have been up to the scrap yard to practice cutting open cars with the hydraulic equipment.

'The real fire brigade has said that it will respond to 999 calls if there is a very serious emergency or if life is in danger. It will be a tough one to call, but each situation will be dealt with on its own merits.

'We have a representative from East and West Sussex fire brigades with us in the control room at all times who can deploy firefighters at a moment's notice.

'Of course, we are slightly apprehensive. We have been forced into this situation, and of course I hold some trepidation that I may lose someone. But when the first call comes in, I expect all these fears will evaporate.