Police have been giving back-up to the Green Goddesses tackling fires in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The number of hoax calls since the strike began has prompted police in Sheffield to check whether fires are genuine before Green Goddesses are dispatched.

And extra police have been drafted in to North Yorkshire to escort army tenders.

Military officials have said their crews are up to the task of protecting the region.

Car fires

In West Yorkshire, army units have put out a number of car fires including one in Keighley within minutes of the strike starting.

We will be stretched but I assure the public we will do the best we can to respond to the situations

Brigadier David Shaw

They also attended a car fire in Harehills and Sgt Sam Fleney said: "We arrived within minutes of the call, and we had put the fire out after about 15 minutes."

A Green Goddess and a breathing apparatus rescue team attended a fire at Verdeca properties near Warne to the north of Hull.

The army said when they first arrived they had to make the building safe because gas bottles were stored inside.

And in Grimsby the military tackled a fire at an abandoned house at around 2230 GMT.

Eyewitnesses said two Green Goddesses dealt with the incident but they took around twenty minutes to arrive.

Two people were treated in hospital for the effects of breathing in smoke.

Equipment ready

The senior army officer responsible for providing cover in Yorkshire and Humber during the fire strike insists his men and equipment are up to the task.

Brigadier David Shaw, commanding officer of 15 (North East) Brigade, said his main aim was to save lives.

Across the region 64 military Green Goddesses, many up to 50 years old, have replaced 202 normal fire engines.

Nearly 4,000 local firefighters are on strike but Brigadier Shaw believes his men are fully prepared.

'Well trained'

"We will be stretched but I assure the public we will do the best we can to respond to the situations," said.

"We do not have the same resources and equipment as the fire brigade but we are well trained and prepared. Our aim is to save lives."

Emergency cover for West Yorkshire is being provided by 22 Engineer Regiment and 29 Green Goddesses.

South Yorkshire has 11 Green Goddesses crewed by the Duke of Wellington's Regiment while 38 Engineer Regiment are taking the strain in Humberside with 15 rescue vehicles.

The RAF is on duty in North Yorkshire with nine Green Goddesses to cover England's largest county.

Phil Toase, Chief Fire Officer for West Yorkshire, urged members of the public to be extra vigilant for the duration of the strike.

"We will not be able to meet the normal response times but we will do the best we can in the circumstances," he said.