AS a firefighter, I have received a lot of praise for my work, but recently I have received just as much criticism for being greedy and selfish.

The fire service is like an insurance policy -- you hope you never need it but if anything goes wrong you want the best possible service.

Compared to most public services, we cost next to nothing, and are consistently the best performing service. We take on an ever-increasing workload but receive no extra funding. Recently the armed forces have been sent to the Gulf region without the proper equipment to carry out their job, putting their lives at risk, but the fire service has to cope with much of its workload without any of the tools it needs to carry out its job.

Our employers want us to accept the Bain report and change the way we work as firelighters. I'm all for change and modernisation, but the Bain report isn't modernisation, it is a cost-saving exercise. Some of the things it calls for are cost recovery, which means the public will pay for the fire service as normal, but when you need the fire service, you will be charged again for the service you use. This will be paid for by your insurance, which will mean everybody's home, car and business insurance will increase.

A lot of the changes in Bain are already being done, such as fire safety and paramedic-type work, but, without the proper funding, the service can't modernise, as has been shown recently with paramedics having to apply for a Lottery grant to pay for new life-saving equipment.

Our pay claim may seem a lot to some, but all we are asking for is the same as other public services get, such as police officers who also do a dangerous job as we do. A large percentage of firefighters are ex-forces. I, myself, served in the Gulf last time and was as proud to serve my country as I am to serve my community today.

I, like all firefighters, embrace modernisation in whatever form, but proper modernisation, not reducing or cheapening the service, as our employers and Government want. There is always enough money to bail out failed private services such as nuclear and transport industries, and money is always available for defence projects.

I hope the public can see through the spin, but if they have any questions I hope they will come to their local fire station to discuss any doubts they may have.

(Name and

address supplied)