RAF and Navy firefighters are being deployed

A six-man team was then sent to a car fire in the Toxteth area of Liverpool.

They doused the Vauxhall Cavalier which had ignited after crashing into a lamppost.

Later two Green Goddesses attended a fire in a row of derelict houses in the Huyton area.

A fire rescue team also arrived but there was no one inside the buildings.

A defence spokesman said: "We appreciate that these are not major incidents but they are proving the system is up and running and we are able to react to situations."

City centre march

Meanwhile, hundreds of striking firefighters marched through the city centre to a rally where they confirmed their resolution to carry on with their action.

The strike was prompted by Merseyside Fire Authority's proposal for appointing non-uniformed staff to senior management posts previously reserved for experienced firefighters.

Chief fire officer Malcolm Saunders maintains the authority was hoping to encourage more women and people from ethnic minorities to join the service.

But almost 83% of Merseyside's 1,400 officers voted for the stoppage.

Fire strike cover

25 Green Goddesses 408 RAF and Navy firefighters 115 Army drivers

Firefighters from across the UK are expected to join a march through the city later on Friday.

Green Goddesses were last used during a firefighters' strike in Essex three years ago.

Armed forces staff tackled fires on Merseyside during the previous firefighters' strike, which started in 1995 and lasted for nine months.

But this time the authority is threatening to take money from strikers to pay for the armed forces' emergency cover.

'Inflame the situation'

Mr Saunders estimates the net cost at about �1m - almost �1,000 for every firefighter.

The union's Merseyside secretary, Les Skarratts, added: "The only contribution the fire authority is making to the dispute is to threaten our members and try to inflame the situation."

Military staff at the joint-control centre, set up at Merseyside Police's Canning Place headquarters, are expecting to deal with up to 600 emergency calls a week, according to the force's acting Assistant Chief Constable Mike Langdon.

He said police officers will escort goddesses - which travel at about 35mph - to incidents in a bid to ensure efficiency and safety.

We have the best military expertise available for this kind of operation

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Blong

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Blong, head of the military operation, said: "We have the best military expertise available for this kind of operation. We are ready to take to the streets.

"The role of the armed force contingent is to provide emergency fire fighting cover and fire rescue cover for the region.

"It is an emergency service only and we don't hope to emulate what the fire service provide," he added.

Most of the armed forces personnel taking part are trained firefighters from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.