Chelmsford firefighters have spoken about how they agonised on voting 'yes' to national strike action due to start Tuesday.

And the Essex fire crews' leader has said they will not deliberately leave people if lives are at risk.

Chelmsford leading fire-fighter Dave Nicholson spoke this week of tough decisions he and his colleagues had to take voting for the proposed strikes.

Tough vote - Leading fire-fighter Dave Nicholson, centre, and Chelmsford's Blue Watch

With 23 years experience, 16 with Chelmsford Blue Watch, he shares the fear that someone could die without expert fire cover.

His crew had just returned from rescuing a man in an accident at Boreham.

"Only we had the expertise to deal with such an incident using our specialist aerial ladder platform. None of the army, navy or airforce crews will have either that equipment or specialist knowledge.

"It's the same with road accidents. Since our last pay restructuring 25 years ago we have become qualified and certificated to operate with specialist rescue gear.

"The public are probably not aware that our present wage claim is being made on the basis of a survey done by Labour Research at the same time as they were examining MPs' pay.

"It recommended a 40 per cent pay rise but that was shelved.

"We are aware that firefighters are respected and supported by the community and that some people may find it difficult to come to terms with a 40 per cent pay rise."

The first strike is set for 9am on Tuesday ending at 9am on Thursday and from November 2 to 4; then for eight days from November 6, November 22, December 4, and December 16.

Published Friday October 25, 2002

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