Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service has been informed that firefighters across the country have voted in favour of taking part in industrial action.
Update 6 March - Firefighters and control room staff across the UK have overwhelmingly accepted a new pay offer, ending the dispute without industrial action. The settlement is for a 7% increase backdated to July 2022, plus an additional 5% from July 2023. 96% of Fire Brigades Union members voted to accept the deal on an 84% turnout.
National negotiations over pay are currently still underway but if an agreement is not reached, firefighters including those in Lincolnshire, may choose to strike.
No dates for industrial action have currently been set. The service expects to be notified about the result of national negotiations after 8 February.
Chief Fire Officer for Lincolnshire, Mark Baxter, said:
“The public should be assured that as with other critical services, if strike action is taken, we work very hard behind the scenes to plan as much as we can to ensure fire crews can still attend emergencies.
“We have already started planning for this eventuality and have robust contingency plans. We may need to prioritise incidents where there is a risk to life, but in the event of an emergency please continue to call 999.”
During any period of industrial action, Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue may be delayed in attending emergencies. Lincolnshire residents are being advised to take the following simple steps prior to and during any periods of reduced fire cover.
- If you do have a fire, get out, stay out and call 999. You will still get a response in an emergency.
- Smoke alarms save lives - ensure you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and test them regularly.
- Take extra care when you are cooking. Do not leave pans unattended, always ensure hobs and ovens are turned off once you have finished cooking and never store things on the hob.
- Make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished.
- Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire, like curtains.
- Plan escape routes and make sure everyone knows how to get out if there was a fire.
- Carry out bedtime fire safety checks. Before you head off to bed carry out some simple fire safety checks – close internal doors, ensure escape routes are clear, keep door and window keys where everyone you live with can find them.
- Do not overload electrical sockets and watch out for faulty and over-heating electrical equipment and wiring or cables. Consider registering your white goods on Home - Register My Appliance so you are informed of faults and recalls.
We are also advising people to carry out the online self-assessment process that be found here.