Think before you dial 999 during strike, says Shropshire fire chief
People in Shropshire are being urged not to call the fire service during strike action on Wednesday this week unless there is a life-threatening emergency.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union are due to walk out on Wednesday between noon and 4pm in a dispute over pensions.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has said while its control centre will remain operational, calls will be prioritised according to their level of seriousness. Chief fire officer John Redmond said: "Our administration staff will be working as normal, however some business and community fire prevention work is likely to be cut back.
"We are asking people to only call 999 if they really do need a fire engine. Our priority is to respond to calls where a life may be at risk or someone needs to be rescued. If we respond to non-emergency calls then those most in need could be at risk.
"A non-emergency call could be to someone who is locked out of their house or where debris has fallen into the road. There are other agencies and organisations that can help in this instance.
"We do find ourselves in an unusual situation where we must prioritise our calls for those who are most in need of our assistance. However, I must emphasise that you should still call 999 in an emergency so that an experienced control room operator can deal with your situation. You must not try and call your local fire station directly."
The walkout is most likely to affect the full-time fire stations in Shrewsbury and Telford, where members of the FBU are due to hold picket lines.
Mr Redmond said part-time fire stations in rural areas of the county were less likely to be affected. Of Shropshire's 23 fire stations, 19 are crewed solely by retained personnel.
The service has alerted employers of on-call firefighters that they may need to be flexible in releasing staff for action during the period of strike.
Mr Redmond added: "Businesses are also being asked to play their part in reducing risk during these periods, by further helping to reduce the number of false alarms, caused by faulty automatic fire alarm systems, which require a response from our fire crews."
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued a ten point plan for safety around the house, at work, and on the road as part of the preparations for the strike. The advice includes making sure smoke alarms are in working order works and taking extra care in the kitchen.
