Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) have announced that members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will be taking strike action over three days this Bank Holiday weekend.

Dates and times of the industrial action are:
On Friday 2nd May from 12am to 5pm
Saturday 3rd May from 2pm to 2am
Sunday 4th May from 10am to 3pm

The LFRS are asking the public to take extra care over the weekend, particularly if we have good weather and the barbecues come out.

Chief Fire Officer, Chris Kenny commented: “This is a national dispute between the FBU and Government and is not a dispute between LFRS and our firefighters.”

“We do have a significant number of our staff who have given a commitment to maintain emergency cover and as a result the public can be reassured that the Service plan to keep the majority of fire engines in Lancashire operational during the dispute period.

“We would urge all members of the public to be extra vigilant however and be aware that for minor fires in particular, there may be a longer wait for a fire engine. I ask the public to take extra care to prevent a fire happening and encourage them to access the website we have set up to offer advice on how to do that at www.takeextracare.com.

“The focus for the Service in the short term will be on providing the best service possible with the resources available. In the longer term the challenge will be in bringing our workforce together after the dispute to re-establish the most professional service possible.

“Even at this late stage I sincerely hope that Government and FBU will soon arrive at a negotiated settlement and we have written to the Government to urge progress.”