Troops are in training to work the tenders and take over fire stations throughout Merseyside during an eight-day walkout due to start next Friday.
A last minute legal bid to block the ballot collapsed shortly before the Fire Brigades Union announced an 82.7% majority in favour of striking. The action, supported by most fire officers and station staff as well as rank and file firefighters, will start at 9am on Friday 13 unless Merseyside fire authority withdraws reforms.
These measures, drawn up by the region's chief fire officer, Malcolm Saunders, include appointing non-uniformed staff to senior positions - a move seen as threatening the traditional career ladder. The authority argues that skipping the compulsory stint in uniform will attract more women and ethnic minority applicants.
Mr Saunders said last night that green goddesses - army fire engines mothballed for national emergencies - were part of contingency plans if the strike went ahead. He said: "We will do everything in our power to provide the best possible cover during this unwarranted strike. However, we do ask the public of Merseyside to be extra vigilant in their homes."
Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the union, which is holding a national demonstration in support of the strike at King's Dock, Liverpool, next Friday, said it had been forced into recommending strike action. "We have here a chief fire officer and a fire authority who have blatantly ignored unanimous decisions by the fire service national disputes panel.
"It's appalling that the fire authority are continuing to support Malcolm Saunders in this personal crusade which will put public safety at risk."
Mr Saunders and the authority have pressed forward with the planned changes, but they said last night that they had offered to delay final approval until a national decision had been made on the issue by union and fire authority representatives.
Peter Dowd, chairman of Merseyside fire authority, said: "The people of Merseyside are being plunged into a strike that no one wants or understands. The authority is confident that all the necessary contingency plans are in place. But the sad fact is we will see green goddesses on the street for the first time since 1996."
