The prime minister has branded today's fire strike as "unjustified, dangerous and wrong".

Green goddesses will take to the streets tonight as fire fighters begin the first of a series of 48-hour stoppages.

Tony Blair came out fighting as last ditch attempts to finds a way out of the dispute ended in acrimony.

Forum Response: Fire Brigade Union

Andy Gilchrist, general secretary for the Fire Brigade Union, told ePolitix.com: "Tony Blair has got a cheek, if we could vote for a 41 per cent pay increase ourselves, we would not have to be on strike."

Geoff Ellis, spokesman for the Fire Brigade Union, told ePolitix.com: "The strike by the Fire Bridage Union has been provoked by the government. Their inquiry by George Bain was clearly not an independent inquiry.

"The FBU feels that government intervention into pay talks on July 9 and with the Bain review has forced us into a corner where strike action for members was the only possible response."

Forum Response: Local Government Association

A spokesman for the LGA said: "The FBU claims the fire service has been modernised. But modernisation is a continual mechanism by which more lives could be saved.

"Today, we should be able to use fire fighters when and where they are most needed to protect our community, but we are unable to do so because the FBU prevents change. All other workers are allowed to work overtime, but fire fighters are prevented from doing so due to restricted Union policy.

"We have said all along that local government employers could not fund an offer of more than four per cent and were unlikely to do so unless significant changes were implemented.

"The offer made yesterday - along the lines of the Bain recommendation of 11.3 per cent - could only be delivered with financial underwriting by central government. It has not indicated that it is prepared to fund any negotiable increase at this time. We urge the government to respond to this matter.

"We hope the public will understand why we must remain resolute in our insistence that any increase in pay must deliver a more streamlined, focused and flexible service. We will not yield to unrealistic union wage demands nor capitulate in the face of bully-boy tactics designed to hold this country to ransom and put lives at risk.

"We hope fire fighters will reflect carefully on their union actions on their behalf in rejecting what we believe to be a fair and reasonable offer."