FIREFIGHTERS could be unable to respond to any automatic alarms during strike action on Thursday.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union in Essex will strike from 9am to 6pm as part of an ongoing dispute with fire service bosses.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has warned it may not be able to respond to any automatic alarms unless they are followed up with a 999 call.

This will affect schools, hospitals and residential homes which would ordinarily receive a response as soon as an alarm is triggered.

Since February 2011, the service has adopted a policy of not responding to automatic fire alarms originating from offices or factories.

But it continues to respond to alarms from premises where there is a risk to life, such as schools and hospitals.

During the strike, when there will be reduced cover, all premises are advised to call 999 to ensure firefighters attend an emergency.

Members of the public are being urged to play their part in keeping risks to a minimum during the industrial action.

Assistant chief fire officer Paul Hill said: “Fire engines will still be attending emergencies and the public should continue to dial 999 as normal.

“But anything we can do to reduce the number of non-emergency calls during the strike periods over the weekend will clearly assist us in ensuring our service delivery is directed to those areas where it is most needed.”

Families are advised to check smoke alarms are working and keep an eye on vulnerable neighbours, friends and family.

Mr Hill said: “If they don’t have one, you still have time to fit one. Smoke alarms have proved time and again that they are invaluable life saving devices and with or without industrial action will give people early warning and time to escape a fire.”

The industrial action has been called as part of an ongoing dispute about future cuts within Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

Bosses are proposing cutting 179 frontline jobs due to the amount of emergency call outs reducing by half over the past decade.