Army denied access to firefighters' equipment

Ministers are bracing themselves for a backlash over their refusal to allow the Army to use modern firefighting equipment during next week's strike.

The Government is vetoing the use on the basis that it could aggravate the industrial action planned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in support of their demands for a 39 per cent pay rise.

The deadlock between the Government and the union tightened yesterday, with Downing Street insisting there was "no way in the world" it could accede to the inflation-busting demands.

Whitehall officials will today reactivate the Cobra emergency response unit to discuss the deepening crisis. The possibility of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) workers' union striking simultaneously to demonstrate its fears over rail safety will be high on the agenda. The FBU is planning a series of walkouts beginning on 29 October, leaving the Army to fight fires.

Nick Raynsford, the minister responsible for fire services, said the Army would have to rely on just 800 "Green Goddesses", some of which are 50 years old, as opposed to the 3,000 modern fire engines used by firefighters.

He said: "Modern kit is much more sophisticated and would require a longer training period. But there would be some very difficult instances at fire stations if the Army tried to take over kit when they [the strikers] were picketing fire stations. It would involve the Army in the dispute."