The Army has said it will not cross picket lines to take fire engines in Northern Ireland while providing cover during the eight-day firefighters' strike.

More than 500 military personnel have taken over from the province's firefighters who joined the second national strike over pay at 0900 GMT on Friday.

Talks between the Fire Brigades Union and their national employers broke down late on Thursday night after it appeared a deal had been reached.

There have been angry claims by the union that the government scuppered the deal at the last moment, which have been denied by the deputy prime minister.

NI FBU representative Jim Barbour: "Government scuppered deal"

The 32 yellow goddesses used in last week's 48-hour strike have started attending fires again, in place of the 130 modern fire appliances usually available for duty.

Commanding officer of Northern Ireland's fire and rescue group Colonel Roland Landley said the security forces would do everything in their power to provide effective cover.

But he said his staff would not risk compromising the neutrality of the fire service.

"We will not be training on using red appliances in Northern Ireland," he told BBC Radio Ulster.

"Over the years of the Troubles, the fire service have built up a degree of neutrality with the people of Northern Ireland on both sides. We would not want to prejudice that."

Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has said a request to support the security force personnel in firefighting will put additional stress on the service, which is also providing staffing at Northern Ireland's prisons because of a second day of unofficial industrial action by prison officers.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: "Clearly, the firefighters' strike, with the assistance required in the prisons, is putting a strain on police. But we are coping and I want to reassure everyone that we will be providing the basic policing service in Northern Ireland."

Talks breakdown

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland FBU representative at the talks Jim Barbour blamed the government for the breakdown in the pay talks.

The offer from the employers at the point of breakdown was:

A 4% pay rise from 7 November

Following completion of negotiations another 3.5% paid from 1 April next year

After completion of further negotiations under stage two of the agreement another 3.5% from 7 November next year

Qualified firefighters would be guaranteed a basic pay of �25,000 by next November.

The total increase on the pay bill was 16%.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Friday evening, Mr Barbour said: "Firefighters are devastated by what has happened. We do not want to be in this situation."

"There was no need for this action to proceed whatsoever.

"All this has happened solely as a result of interference from deputy prime minister John Prescott.

Fire pay dispute

FBU demand: 40% Old offer: 11.3% Expected offer: 16% New offer: 4% Old wage: �21,000

"For the third time now the government has stepped in to undermine a deal between the national employers and ourselves."

He said it really appeared a deal had been reached with the employers that would have averted the strike.

"The money was there, if it hadn't of been there, the employers wouldn't have signed up to it.

"The employers were happy with the deal, we were happy with the deal. The fact was that the government sabotaged it once again."

Mr Barbour added: "When the national employers left their talks today, they said John Prescott himself would individually be to blame if there were deaths as a result of this dispute. And we agree with them."

He said the union wanted to continue talking to the government and the national employers "but that dialogue must be meaningful".

Prescott denial

But later on Friday, the deputy prime minister rejected the FBU's accusation that it scuppered any deal.

Mr Prescott said any deal had to be fair for taxpayers as well as for the firefighters.

Within minutes of the strike starting, firefighters left their picket line in Londonderry to help people involved in a minor road accident outside their station.

No-one was hurt in the crash.

Meanwhile, a fireworks display planned by Lisburn City Council has been cancelled because of concerns over safety during the firefighters' strike. The display was to be part of Friday night's switching on of the Christmas tree lights.