FIREFIGHTERS with specialist training are offering emergency cover throughout Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

The Royal Air Force's own fire service, which receives similar training to conventional firefighters, is on standby in the two counties in case of emergency.

There are also personnel who are Enhanced Trained Non Specialist (ETNS), which means they have been sent on a five-week intensive training course to be able to use breathing apparatus and other specialist equipment.

They say the public should not be concerned about the capabilities of troops as they can cope with any situation.

"We're quite experienced in all types of fires," said Cpl Neil Angus, an RAF and retained firefighter.

"We cover RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, to assist the local fire brigade.

"When we've passed out we're similarly qualified to a local authority fireman.

"The ETNS people are more qualified than a retained crew.

"We might only get called out to five shouts a year, but we have to meet the minimum requirements. If we're not on a fire we're busy and we're consistently training."

At Worcester, where there are two Green Goddesses, there is also a Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team (BART) and the Regional Equipment Support Team (REST).

These are in two small pick-up trucks that sometimes accompany the Green Goddesses with an emergency.

"There is a whole range of equipment," said Sgt Niall Thomson, a Green Goddess crew commander.

"On BART we've got breathing apparatus and cutting gear for road accidents. We've got the kit, just not as much as the local authority fire crews."

The night shift, which runs from 7pm until 7am, has been called out once since the strike began at 9am on Friday, November 22.

They raced out to Droitwich on Friday night, though it turned out to be a false alarm with good intent.

"While the Green Goddesses aren't physically very quick our response times have been comparable with the fire service," said Sgt Thomson.

"We got to Droitwich in 18 minutes, which is pretty good when everyone thinks we're slow and decrepit."

Trained to cope with any situation

FACTFILE

The Green Goddesses date back to the 1950s.

They are properly known as Bedford Self Propelling Pumps as they can suck up pools of water.

They can hold 400 gallons of water and when the side hoses are in use they can work for 35 minutes without the need to top up.

They are not military vehicles as they are owned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

There are nine covering the Worcestershire and Herefordshire areas. Two are stationed at Worcester, two in Hereford, two in Kidderminster and three in Redditch.

Every time a Green Goddess goes out to an incident there are six personnel on board.

The accompanying vehicles are the Regional Equipment Support Team (REST) and the Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team (BART).

In Worcester, five crew accompany the REST while three go out with BART in the day and four go out at night.

These crew are either professional RAF firefighters or the ETNS airmen.

At Worcester there are 20 personnel on duty in the day and 22 at night with two in the ops room.

People being more careful

THE Worcester crews did not receive a single call-out on their Saturday night shift.

The only incidents across the two counties were attended by the Royal Green Jackets, who are based in Hereford.

They were called out to a motorcycle fire and a false alarm with good intent.

"We thought it would be a bit busier because it's a Saturday," said Royal Navy Air Engineer Mechanic David Cowderoy.

"We're surprised at how quiet it's been. People are probably being more careful."

The troops, who are based at the Silver Street Territorial Army barracks, have been drafted in from around the country.

AEM Cowderoy arrived from Cornwall, as a last minute detachment to boost numbers.

"I'm having fun in Worcester but I want to be home for Christmas," said RAF Senior Air Craftsmen (SAC) Technician Derek Bull.

He would normally be a ground engineer for the force's helicopters.

"It's good that no one needs our help but I miss home," said SAC Steven Bolger.

"I'm looking forward to Christmas and hoping to be back home."

Crews win praise for professionalism

MILITARY and retained fire crews were called to 28 emergency incidents on the third night of the firefighters' strike.

A spokesman said that this was significantly lower than usual which meant that people had responded to warnings to take extra care during the eight-day walk-out.

However, he reminded the people to remain vigilant in their homes and workplaces, ensure smoke alarms had been tested and involve all family members in making a fire escape plan.

The most serious incident occurred at 12.45pm when two Army Green Goddess crews and a breathing apparatus tender were called to a house fire in Kingsacre, Hereford.

Neighbours had dialled 999 after hearing smoke alarms coming from an elderly couple's house.

After helping the couple out of the building the crews discovered that a fire had started in flooring beneath a heath stone and a solid fuel burner.

An officer from Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade, who was also at the scene, said the action of the military crews had prevented a potential tragedy. He praised them for their skill and professionalism.

Overnight crews were also called to a road traffic accident in Kempsey, a small fire in a flat in The Strand, Bromsgrove and five car fires in Worcester, Kidderminster and Hereford.

Intensive training and hard work

IF the firefighters' strike had never happened Chief Technician Martyn Pike would have been running an adventurous training facility for the Armed Forces.

Instead the electronics engineer from Crowle, near Worcester, underwent adventurous training of his own.

He is one of a handful of airmen based at Worcester to have successfully completed a five-week intensive course to become an Enhanced Trained Non Specialist.

"I knew I was going to be involved in the operation but I didn't know what I was going to do," said chief technician Pike.

"In the military you've jobs you don't want to do but we do it.

"The training was very intensive. It's hard work and you can fail.

"But I know I've had the same training as the professionals here.

"I've not had to use any of that training yet but it's a difficult situation. The team that we're on is only likely to be called out if there is a serious incident for which the training will come into its own.

"We want to use that training. If the strike carries on in a few weeks' time we might have different answers."

The ETNS troops are trained in breathing apparatus and other knowledge associated with firefighting, though they are not considered specialists.

The former Droitwich High School pupil has been in the RAF for 24 years and is now in charge of a gliding school used by all three services.

"It's nice to be back home," he said.

"I've seen my parents more often by being here. It's been 10 years since I've been round the town but the people are just as friendly."