A DERBYSHIRE firefighter said he and his colleagues were desperate to avoid tomorrow's national strike but felt "backed into a corner".
The action, over pensions and retirement ages, will take place from noon to 4pm.
Ben Keiller, who is based at Ilkeston Fire Station, said: "The vast majority of firefighters service the community they live in and the last thing they want is for there to be less protection against fire in their area.
"It's the first strike I've been involved in – and I hope it will be the last – but we feel backed into a corner."
Under Government plans, firefighters in England will get their full pension at 60, instead of the current 55.
The FBU says that many firefighters would not be able to maintain fitness standards into their late-50s and this would endanger the public.
Under the plans, those retiring early at, for example, 55 would lose thousands of pounds a year, the FBU says.
Mr Keiller said: "The Government is expecting large numbers of firefighters in their late-50s to fight fires and rescue people.
"It's dangerous to both members of the public and firefighters.
"I'm a 29-year-old man with two children. My wife works for the fire service as well and I'm going to have to pay 13.2% of my salary into my pension. We already pay about 11% and that's one of the highest in the public order sector.
"I feel let down by the Government."
Mr Keiller said he would be on the picket line tomorrow.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has recruited 32 volunteers to help it cope during the strike and will, in addition, have staff who are not members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) available.
But the service has confirmed that its capability to respond to emergencies would be reduced.
Fire Minister Brandon Lewis has said that the decision by the FBU to take strike action was "entirely unnecessary and avoidable". He said: "After two years of discussions, and with improved terms, the pension on offer to firefighters is one of the most generous public service pensions available.
"A firefighter who earns £29,000 and retires after a full career aged 60 will get a £19,000-a-year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension. To get the same pension from a private scheme, firefighters would have to contribute twice as much."
The fire service would not reveal what training had been given to the civilian reserve firefighters nor how many would be available.
Meanwhile, the service has called on people not to make unnecessary 999 calls, particularly during the strike.
Area manager Kam Basi said: "Our priority during times of industrial action is to respond to those priority calls where a life may be at risk or someone needs to be rescued. If we respond to non-emergency calls, those most in need could be at risk."
