Army to be drafted in if firefighters vote to strike

Exclusive: RAF base to be used for troops and fire engines if FBU votes for action, The Independent can reveal

The Fire Brigades Union is currently balloting on strike action (PA)

The military is being called in to cover for an expected strike by firefighters, despite warnings that troops should not be treated as “spare capacity” for a wave of industrial action by public services.

The Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) is balloting more than 33,000 firefighters and control room staff after they rejected a “derisory” 5 per cent increase, with the vote closing on 30 January.

Ministers are so certain that firefighters will strike that preparations have already started to organise the deployment of British Army personnel and private contractors.