Businesses in London’s Docklands have arranged private fire safety cover during the firefighters’ strike planned for 5 and 6 November.

The Canary Wharf Group – which looks after around 30 office buildings and premises comprising more than 200 shops, bars and restaurants – has secured the services of an un-named private contractor to help with evacuations or “other fire responses” during the strike period.

A Canary Wharf spokesman told Info4fire that the company had also increased the numbers of relevant building managers and security staff on site, and had liaised with tenants on procedures in the event of an incident.

"Safety is of paramount importance to us,” he said. “Because of this, Canary Wharf Group has a proactive plan in place to alleviate the risk to people or property during the strike period.

"By taking this proactive approach and speaking to our tenants in advance, the response to potential incidents should not be unduly affected."

More than 90,000 people work at Canary Wharf across its 15 million sq feet of space.

London Fire Brigade itself has contingency measures in place using privately contracted firefighters, which it deployed during the strike last Saturday. Last year it signed a five-year contract with AssetCo plc for the provision of emergency fire crews during contingencies such as strikes, flooding or pandemic illness – the first such contact in the UK.

AssetCo also maintains and manages the operational availability of frontline vehicles and operational equipment used by London Fire Brigade.