Senior staff and operational managers helped out today as Cambridgeshire fire service – facing the latest strike over cuts and pensions – dealt with seven calls.

Tonight, as the strike ended, the fire service thanked people for heeding their ‘be safer, be slower, be vigilant’ campaign.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) went on strike between midday and 5pm today during which time fire engines were crewed by on-call firefighters, operational managers and senior staff from across Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS).

During the strike action, seven 999 calls were received but no firefighting took place.

A fire service spokesman gave details of the incidents:

At 12.32 we were called to an automatic fire alarm at Ellis House, Mulberry Close in Cambridge. This is a care home/sheltered accommodation. One crew attended and no firefighting action was required as this was a false alarm.

At 1.07pm we were called to a fire in the open in St George Avenue, Stanground. One crew attended and no firefighting action was required.

At 1.28pm we were called to an automatic fire alarm at Eurocentres school in Bateman Street, Cambridge. One crew attended and this was a false alarm so no firefighting action required.

At 1.40pm we were called to a fire in the open in Barford Road, Eynesbury. One crew attended and this was a false alarm as it was a controlled burn, so no firefighting action was required.

At 2.24pm we were called to an automatic fire alarm at Priory Junior School, Longsands Road, St Neots. One crew attended and this was a false alarm.

At 2.31pm we were called to reports of a smell of burning at a building in Syers Lane, Whittlesey. Two crews attended and this was a false alarm.

At 4.39pm we were called to free a child who had become trapped in a plastic device at an address in Peterborough. Firefighters cut the child free.

Deputy chief fire officer Chris Strickland said: “Whilst our day-to-day services are severely disrupted by the strike, we were able to fulfil our legal duty to provide a fire and rescue service.

“Our thanks go out to the community for taking extra care this morning and putting safety at the forefront of their minds.”

Residents and businesses are urged to continue to take extra care during further strikes scheduled for the bank holiday weekend. These take place from 2pm tomorrow (Saturday May 3) unit 2am (Sunday), and then a third strike running from 10am until 3pm on Sunday (May 4).

For further information on the strike and further safety advice, log onto www.cambsfire.gov.uk or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.