FIREFIGHTERS in Kent and across the country were today geared up for 48-hour strike action which is due to begin at 6pm.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), fighting for increased pay, insists the Government is risking lives by deploying the army's Green Goddesses.

Fire Brigade Union Kent chair Mark Simmons, speaking at Ashford Fire Station, said: "We're striking with a heavy heart. We've been pushed into this. Firefighters are caring people and this weighs on our conscience."

He stressed: "If there was a major incident, we would hear on radio and flood back to work. We know the risks."

The 3,000 fire engines used across the country will be replaced by 827 military trucks that were built in the 1950s. In Kent, only 16 to 18 Green Goddesses will replace the 118 available fire engines.

For a county that is 69 miles long and 38 miles wide, the Green Goddesses and army personnel will have their work cut out and according to the FBU, it is likely, for instance, that only two units will cover the whole of Medway. Green Goddesses were used during the first set of firefighters' strikes 25 years ago.

Around 30,000 workers were involved in the walkout which lasted for nine weeks. At the time fire fighters worked a basic 48-hour week, for which they were paid an average of £71.10, which amounted to £3,700 a year.

People were encouraged to keep buckets of sand and water at home and fire brigades issued safety guides to cut the risk of fires.

During this time many homeowners still relied on open fires for heating so they were advised to have their chimneys cleaned.

About 10,000 Army, Navy and RAF personnel manned fleets of Green Goddesses on the streets to tackle emergencies.

And as the strikes continued into the winter, stories emerged of how the well-disciplined military were not equipped to deal with the big emergencies.

On January 16, 1978, firefighters settled for a 10 per cent pay rise with guarantees of future increases and went back to work.

THE official fire brigade advice on precautions to take during the strike is on the Kent Fire Brigade site: http://www.kent.fire-uk.org