Govt calls in R.A.F. to fight U.K. fires

Press, 19 November 1977, Page 8

Govt calls in R.A.F. to fight U.K. fires

INZPA-Reuter London I The British Government drafted teams of Royal Air (Force firefighting specialists ■ with sophisticated equipment (into cities yesterday to help (10,000 hard-pressed. illiequipped soldiers replacing Ifiremen who are striking for more pay. ; The 66. two-man air force ■ squads were mobilised in response to mounting criticism (of the inexperienced army (firefighters, and lack of prosper equipment such as (breathing apparatus and (metalcutting torches. i Twelve persons have died |in fires this week. i The 33,000 striking firemen locked up their modern equipment in their stations when they began their walkout on Monday morning. Government officials said militants had sabotaged some fire engines to prevent the troops using them. More than 100 young soldiers have been overcome by smoke while fighting fires around the country (since Monday. Army com(manders reported that the (strain was telling on their • men. j One said: “We’re worried (that exhaustion will mean (mistakes and some of our (men will be killed.” i The Prime Minister (Mr (James Callaghan) declared in •the House of Commons that (his Government was not (prepared to risk confrontation with the strikers or jeopardise a possible settlement by commandeering the firemen’s equipment. One strike leader said; “We’ll wreck our equipment if the soldiers try to use it. AH it’ll be fit for is selling for scrap.”