Fire-fighters in the Republic have reacted angrily to a decision to draft in Army units to provide emergency cover in Co Donegal as a result of the strike in Britain and the North.
Two units of the Defence Forces, trained in fire-fighting and the provision of other emergency services, have been stationed in areas of the county normally covered by fire crews from the North.
One of the units is based in Lifford and the other in Burnfoot, both of which are close to the Donegal-Derry Border.
Donegal's fire service is largely part-time, but last night a spokesman for the fire-fighters, Mr Brian Murray, said there was sufficient cover available to provide a service for the entire county.
Mr Murray, who is chairman of the fire-fighters' committee of SIPTU, said the decision to employ the Army could result in the fire-fighters' strike in the North "escalating into a dispute in the 26 counties".
The initial response, he said, was likely to be a refusal by fire-fighters in Donegal to provide back-up to the Army units. The intention was that the Army units would be deployed in the first instance, and local fire-fighters would support them if required. "But that's unlikely to happen. They can't have it both ways."
He claimed the decision to use the Army had also angered the Fire Brigade Union in the North, and members there were threatening not to resume cover in Donegal when the strike was over.
A Defence Forces spokesman said they had responded to a request by Donegal County Council to provide a service.
