Striking firefighters and their employers have been embroiled in a row over a major blaze at a scrap metal yard in east London.
All on-duty firefighters due to strike in London on Friday night were recalled to their stations by the London Fire Brigade (LBF) under an agreed and voluntary procedure in the event of a major incident.
However, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) told firefighters not to answer the call saying that the recall was invalid because there was no risk to life.
London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "There is no reference to risk of life in the agreed protocols to implement a major incident."
Mr Dobson said a major incident could trigger a recall and the agreement was implemented because of the size of the blaze and the resources needed to deal with it.
By not responding to the recall, he said it was the FBU that was in breach of the agreement.
There are around 1,500 tonnes of metal alight. Picture: fishycol1/Twitter But FBU London Secretary Paul Embery said the recall was not agreed.
He said the London Fire Brigade had been giving assurances that their "contingencies were sufficient".
A total of 20 fire engines and 120 firefighters attended the blaze on Perry Road in Dagenham on Friday night where around 1,500 tonnes of scrap metal in the open air was alight.
Cylinders were also believed to be involved and a hazard zone was put in place in case they exploded due to the intense heat.
Black smoke from the site could be seen from miles around, and residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed.
Of the 27 fire appliances in operation for contingency, 20 were allocated to the Dagenham fire.
Police officers and ambulance crews also attended the scene. There are no reported injuries, but several local roads were closed and motorists advised to avoid the area if possible.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said he supported the decision to recall all striking FBU staff.
Smoke can be seen from miles around. Picture: JSinghLon/Twitter It came as firefighters in the rest of England and Wales went ahead with the strike in their dispute with the Government over pensions, on what was expected to be one of the busiest days of the year for the service ahead of Bonfire Night and Diwali celebrations.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) walked out at 6.30pm, mounting picket lines outside fire stations until the stoppage ended at 11pm.
A further two-hour strike will be held from 6am on Monday, the day before Bonfire Night.
Fire brigades across the country have urged members of the public to put off any firework displays in their own gardens and to switch it to Saturday, or go to an organised event.
The union held a four-hour stoppage last month but called off another strike after it appeared a deal was in sight, but officials said the Government and fire employers had failed to offer any firm guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changing the pension age from 55 to 60.
The union fears firefighters will be made redundant if they fail fitness tests, and are unable to find other work in the fire service.
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