Across Essex, 13 retained fire stations are responding to emergencies during the fire strike.

The situation surrounding retained fire crews during the strike has remained unclear because some retained fire fighters are members of the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU), which is striking, and some are members of the Retained Firefighters Union (RFU), which is not officially taking strike action.

Because some RFU members are joining FBU members in taking strike action, the situation regards fire cover is changeable during the strike period.

Those which are responding are those whose fire fighters are members of the RFU. They include: Wivenhoe, Tiptree and Coggeshall.

But some are unable to put together enough people to form a fire crew and that includes Weeley Fire Station. Others are staffed by members of the FBU and are on strike. They include: Mersea, Manningtree and Brightlingsea.

Published Thursday November 14, 2002

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