THE last thing that anyone wants is another fire strike. Eleven years ago the sight of armed forces operating green goddesses on East Lancashire’s roads became a common site as firefighters picketed.

Now with the prospect of new industrial action over pensions, the fire service no longer has this large fleet of vehicles to fall back on.

Instead it must come up with its own emergency cover plan.

In Lancashire this has resulted in the chief fire officer, Chris Kenny, writing to all his 1,000-plus frontline staff urging them to ignore the strike action in return for a special bonus. The payments could be anything from £250 to £1,000 in their wage packets.

Former firefighter and fire authority member Miles Parkinson, the leader of Hyndburn Council, has described the move as making him feel ‘uncomfortable’.

And the Fire Brigades Union has said the step could actually put workers off volunteering because staff will be concerned they will appear to be profiting from the action.

The fire chief is certainly in a difficult position. He must do all in his power to ensure there is adequate cover in the county.

But at the same time he cannot control the Government negotiations over pensions.

Let us hope that the ministers who are seeking to reach an agreement with the FBU do so before any strike action takes place.