PLANS are being finalised to keep households safe during a planned walkout by members of the Fire Brigades' Union during a busy weekend of events.

The Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is finalising its contingency plans to deal with the latest round of industrial action, part of a national dispute over pension reforms, which will see firefighters walk out between 6pm on Friday, October 31 and 6pm on Tuesday, November 4.

As a result, it is anticipated that personnel at the whole-time fire stations at Swindon, Stratton, Westlea, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Salisbury will be unavailable for fire calls over the 96-hour period.

The on-call stations at Calne, Warminster, Melksham and Pewsey will also be on strike.

The Service has established a range of plans in order to maintain fire cover across the county, which will include crews responding from alternative locations if required.

On-call stations unaffected by the strike should be providing fire cover as usual across the four days.

Chief Fire Officer, Simon Routh-Jones, said: “This national dispute between the FBU and the Government has now resulted in over a year of strikes, so it is bitterly disappointing that there is still no resolution and we are now facing the longest walkout yet by FBU members during this action.

"As on all previous occasions, this service will do all it can to ensure that our communities remain safe during this time.”

He added: “During the industrial action, we will still respond to 999 calls, but it may take us a little longer than usual to arrive and, with larger premises, we may send a smaller attendance than usual in the first instance.

"With Bonfire Night likely to be celebrated over the weekend, it’s even more important than normal for people to take extra care.”

Some top tips on staying safe during the strike period:

  • Always make sure you have working smoke alarms and test them every week.
  • Don’t use fireworks at home – instead, attend an organised event. If you’ve already bought fireworks, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure you know the fireworks code.
  • Avoid having a bonfire at home – these can get out of control very easily.
  • If you must have a bonfire, NEVER use flammable liquids such as paraffin or petrol to light it, and make sure you have a water supply to hand in case the fire begins to spread.
  • As the weather is getting colder, you might want to light the fire at home – if you do, make sure you’ve had the chimney swept and always use a fireguard.
  • Businesses should check their fire risk assessments and ensure that all staff are fully briefed on what to do if an emergency happens.

For more safety advice, visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/fbustrike.