FIRE chiefs have urged the public to take extra care as firefighters in Merseyside prepare to walk out for 24 hours from tomorrow in a bitter row over pensions.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in England will walk out from 7am on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service said: “The public should be reassured that firefighters who are not taking  part in the industrial action will maintain an emergency response capability and there will be fire appliances available continuously during industrial action.

“We urge people, ahead of this date to test their smoke alarms and ensure they have one on each level of their home. 

"However, we will continue our community fire prevention activities during this period including Home Fire Safety Checks – recognising the importance of providing fire safety information at such a time.

“During any industrial action we always ask the public to take extra care and be vigilant, taking care not to leave food cooking unattended and take care with candles and to extinguish cigarettes fully.”

Ahead of the industrial action, the FBU accused the Government of refusing to negotiate with firefighters.

The union said improvements to pension arrangements had been made in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but an "unworkable" scheme was being imposed by the Westminster government.

The FBU has accused fire minister Penny Mordaunt of misleading Parliament after she told MPs that if a firefighter loses fitness through no fault of their own, they should get another role or a full, unreduced pension.

The union said fire authorities across the country had failed to back up the minister's "guarantee".

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: "Government ministers have ignored three written requests in the last few weeks by the union to meet to try to resolve this dispute.

"Government ministers are quick to call this union militant and yet it's them who still refuse to talk to us when we remain ready to meet and negotiate at any time.

"Firefighters from all across the UK are attending a rally in Westminster on Wednesday in a 'No More Lies' protest aiming to hold this Government accountable for the way it has misled Parliament, the public and firefighters alike."

For free fire safety advice go to www.merseyfire.gov.uk or call 0800 731 5958.