Firefighters in Burnham-On-Sea are set to strike later today (Christmas Eve) in a nationwide strike over pensions.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says thousands of firefighters across the country will walk out for a total of 14 hours over the Christmas period.
The strikes will take place between 7pm and midnight today (Tuesday, December 24th), then between 6.30pm on Tuesday December 31st and 12.30am on Wednesday January 1st. A third strike will be held from 6.30am-8.30am on Friday January 3rd.
A Burnham fire service spokesman said the crew would still be alerted and would attend incidents where lives are at risk.
And Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service says it has substantial contingency plans in place to ensure that it will continue to respond to emergency incidents, however it says the public should recognise the strikes will have an impact on the service’s normal arrangements.
Chief Fire Officer for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Lee Howell, added: “Fire and Rescue Services have contingency plans and ours will again be put into place ahead of these dates for industrial action over the festive period. Our plans have worked well during the previous periods of action, but we are asking the public to help us again by taking extra care during the festive period. We will continue to respond to 999 calls and do everything we can to keep the public safe.”
The industrial action comes after a previous six strikes over the past few months following a row with the Government over pensions.
