THE thin green line - these are some of the RAF personnel who from 6pm tonight will be responsible for tackling fires and dealing with accidents across the York area after firefighters begin their strike.

They are pictured at Imphal Barracks with their ageing Green Goddess fire tender and also a specialist vehicle equipped with breathing apparatus and cutting equipment.

Another Goddess is based at Duncombe Barracks, in Burton Stone Lane.

County fire officer Eric Clark has warned that the public will be at "considerable risk" when his firefighters stage their mass walkout at teatime.

But the firefighters, mostly ground support staff such as technicians, drivers and logistics experts, who have come to York from RAF bases across the country, are quietly confident they can deal with whatever faces them over the next 48 hours.

"Everyone is more than happy. The training we have been given is reasonably good and we are confident we can do what is needed," said Cpl "Pepe" Pugh.

"But we would ask people to be patient when we are out at a shout. We have limited resources."

The firefighters said their Green Goddess, which will be accompanied on call-outs by a police escort, would travel no faster than 40mph. Corporal Steve Finney, who hails from York, and is a qualified RAF firefighter and has travelled back to his home city from RAF Odiham in the South, said: "We are a bit nervous but very confident."

The men will work 12-hour shifts, with six crewing each Goddess and another three, who have undergone five-and-half weeks training, manning the specialist vehicle.

Additional cover will also be provided in the south-eastern area of York by volunteer fire crews from the Yorkshire Air Museum, at Elvington, who have a private six-wheeled fast response vehicle with cutting equipment and a 250-gallon water tank. Museum director Ian Reed said City of York Council had contacted the museum to request help.

Retained firefighters in the York area - based at Acomb station - are believed to be taking part in the strike.

Steven Timmins, the Fire Brigades Union chairman for North Yorkshire, said that if crews were midway through a job when the strike begins tonight they would complete it before joining the pickets.

He said official pickets would be mounted at all the fire stations during the strike.

"We will be waving banners saying 30K Fair Pay and we will be politely asking people not to cross the line.

"We are also asking for support from the public, from just honking their horns to writing to their MPs.

"We have been very reluctant to do this and we feel like we have been forced into it."

Mr Clark has said that firefighters across the county viewed the 48-hour strike with "immense regret and trepidation."

But he also had words of support for the firefighters' hopes of higher pay, saying: "Whilst the 40 per cent Fire Brigades Union pay claim may be considered unrealistic or unachievable, there can be no doubt that firefighters' current salary of £21,531 per annum after four years of service is woefully inadequate for the major contribution they make in safeguarding communities from fire and other emergencies."

The firefighters' leader today suggested that firemen and women would leave picket lines to deal with an emergency during the 48-hour strike which starts tonight.

Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, was meeting Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to discuss the Government's contingency plans for dealing with the walk-out.

Mr Gilchrist said firemen and women were "humanitarians" and would offer any help to their fellow citizens.

Updated: 16:35 Wednesday, November 13, 2002