Soldiers covering for striking north and mid Essex firefighters today dealt with their first house blaze.
Nationwide, three people died in house fires after the strike began.
For the first few hours after the walk-outs at 6pm, the green goddess crews in Essex dealt with small fires and false alarms.
At 3.25am today, they were called to Henry Road, Chelmsford, after a blaze started in a living room.
A spokesman said the two green goddess crews and a breathing apparatus and rescue team got there quickly and were able to contain the flames.
Within hours of the strike, soldiers were called to a grass fire at Weeley Heath in Clacton and a car fire on the Park Drive industrial estate in Braintree.
Just after 10pm, they were called to a rubbish fire in Colchester and a false alarm in Headgate Avenue, Chelmsford.
Around north and mid Essex, firefighters who were due to be on duty from 6pm yesterday walked out of their stations, supported by colleagues from other watches.
Braintree people honked their horns in support of a picket line outside the town's fire station in Railway Street.
The firefighters were back picketing outside the station today.
Chelmsford firefighters were out in force at the town's station today with about 17 of them forming a picket line.
The strike is due to end at 6pm tomorrow and emergencies should be reported by calling 999 as normal.
Published Thursday November 14, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article