DURING a nine hour strike by members of the Fire Brigades’ Union between 10am and 7pm on Thursday, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service dealt with 13 incidents.

Of these, nine were false alarms, three were related to bonfires and one was a co-responder attendance, supporting South Western Ambulance Service.

Five of the false alarms were attended by a resilience pump operating in Swindon, and were in Wroughton, Stratton, North Swindon, Walcot, and Meadowcroft.

One in Stratton was attended by a Cricklade crew; one in Melksham was attended by a Corsham crew; one in Salisbury was attended by a crew from Wilton; and one in Downton was attended by a crew from Amesbury.

The three fires related to bonfires were a fire involving a hedge and shed in Baydon Close, Trowbridge (attended by Bradford on Avon and Corsham, responding from Melksham), a small fire affecting tree cuttings in Highworth, attended by the resilience pump from Swindon, and an unattended campfire in woodland at Bemerton Heath, Salisbury, attended by a crew from Wilton.

The co-responder call was dealt with by a crew in Tisbury, The service is now planning for a series of two-hour strikes by the FBU over eight consecutive days, starting from July 14. Details of these actions are:

  • Monday – 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm
  • Tuesday – 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm
  • Wednesday – 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm
  • Thursday – 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm
  • Friday – 6am to 8am and 11pm to 1am
  • Saturday July 19 – 11am to 1pm and 11pm to 1am
  • Sunday July 20 – 5pm to 7pm l Monday July 21 – 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm

For safety advice for homes and businesses, visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk