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London firefighters leave blaze to honour strike action London firefighters leave blaze to honour strike action
(about 3 hours later)
Seventy firefighters were replaced by contingency crews in the middle of tackling a large fire in east London, after they walked out in a planned strike action. Seventy firefighters were replaced by contingency crews in the middle of tackling a large fire in east London after they walked out as part of planned strike action.
About 400 tonnes of recycling waste caught fire at a warehouse on an industrial estate in Canning Town shortly before 12.30am. London Fire Brigade (LFB) sent 10 engines and 70 firefighters to the blaze but they began industrial action for two hours at 6am and were replaced by four crews operated by Securitas. About 400 tonnes of recycling waste caught fire at a warehouse on an industrial estate in Canning Town shortly before 12.30am. London Fire Brigade (LFB) sent 10 engines and 70 firefighters to the blaze, but they began industrial action for two hours at 6am and were replaced by four crews operated by Securitas.
Paul Embery, the Fire Brigade Union's (FBU) regional secretary for London, said: "Our people honoured strike action. They were sure there wasn't risk to life and they took the decision to honour the strike action and we completely support that decision. This is what happens when you mess about with people's futures, their hard-earned pensions."Paul Embery, the Fire Brigade Union's (FBU) regional secretary for London, said: "Our people honoured strike action. They were sure there wasn't risk to life and they took the decision to honour the strike action and we completely support that decision. This is what happens when you mess about with people's futures, their hard-earned pensions."
He said that the fire minister had insisted that the contingency plans were robust and Embery emphasised that firefighters would never walk away where there was risk to life. He said the fire minister had insisted that the contingency plans were robust and emphasised that firefighters would never walk away where there was risk to life.
During the blaze on Scarab Close, near Lower Lea Crossing, residents in east London were warned to keep doors and windows shut as large plumes of smoke drifted from the fire. During the blaze in Scarab Close, near Lower Lea Crossing, residents in east London were warned to keep doors and windows shut as large plumes of smoke drifted from the fire.
Fire engines were sent from East Ham, Ilford, Plaistow, Stratford, Shadwell, Millwall, Homerton, Dagenham, East Greenwich and Tooting fire stations.Fire engines were sent from East Ham, Ilford, Plaistow, Stratford, Shadwell, Millwall, Homerton, Dagenham, East Greenwich and Tooting fire stations.
When the crews walked out, although there were replacements they were fewer in number, meaning their capacity to fight the fire was reduced. When the crews walked out, fewer replacements were sent in, meaning their capacity to fight the fire was reduced.
At the conclusion of the strike, at 8am, six regular LFB crews consisting of 30 firefighters were sent back to the scene. The blaze was brought under control just before 9.30am on Tuesday morning but LFB said firefighters would remain at the scene throughout the morning damping down pockets of fire. The cause of the fire is unknown. At the conclusion of the strike, six regular LFB crews consisting of 30 firefighters were sent back to the scene. The blaze was brought under control just before 9.30am on Tuesday morning, but LFB said firefighters would remain at the scene damping down pockets of fire. The cause of the fire is unknown.
The walkout on Tuesday morning was the third of 15 periods of FBU industrial action taking place between 14 July and 21 July over changes to their pensions and retirement age that they say will make their members pay more in contributions, work longer and receive less. The union says that shorter strike periods illustrate the strength of feeling among firefighters while limiting disruption to the fire service, the public and members' working lives. The walkout on Tuesday morning was the third of 15 periods of FBU industrial action taking place between 14 and 21 July over changes to firefighters' pensions and retirement age, which they say will make their members pay more in contributions, work longer and receive less.
The union says that shorter strike periods illustrate the strength of feeling among firefighters while limiting disruption to the fire service, the public and members' working lives.
There are 27 fire engines with trained contingency crews operated by Securitas in the capital.There are 27 fire engines with trained contingency crews operated by Securitas in the capital.