Brighton and Hove fire service says have a takeaway during tomorrow’s strike

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said that people in Brighton and Hove should consider having a takeaway during the planned strike on Saturday (19 October).

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) are due to walk out between 6.30pm and 11.30pm – a time when many people are cooking dinner or preparing an after-pub snack.

The fire service said that it was “urging people to consider alternatives to cooking at home during the latest industrial action by firefighters this Saturday”.

It said: “Statistics show more than half of accidental fires at home are started by cooking – and drinking alcohol can put you at even greater risk in the kitchen.”

Steve Wright, the fire service’s community safety team manager, said: “Although we will have emergency cover in place during the strike and trained and professional crews will respond to emergencies, we are urging members of the public to do their bit and take steps to stay safe, particularly if they’ve been out and about on the town.

“We know that drinking alcohol can lead to fires in the home.

“Being drunk can also affect your ability to respond if there is a fire, even if there is a working smoke alarm in the property.

“If you’ve had a drink and fancy a snack, think carefully and consider whether a takeaway might be the safest option.”

The national strike has been called by the FBU which is in dispute with the government over pensions.

Crews went on strike between noon and 4pm three weeks ago on Wednesday 26 September.