More than 11,000 British troops are being called up to fight fires after the Fire Brigades Union (FBU)called for a nationwide strike, The Times newspaper reported Thursday.

According to the paper, the Army has been ordered to provide 7,000 troops, and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force would supply the remainder.

Following the breakdown of talks with employers, the FBU warnedTuesday that they would send out ballot papers for strike action next week.

The FBU is expected to ask its 52,000 members to support discontinuous strike action, walkouts lasting from 24 hours to eight days.

Admitting that the firefighting commitment was going to be "painful" and unwelcome for the Armed Forces, defense sources said it would have "a big impact on the Forces' training cycles for future operations."

The new commitment for British troops followed the announcementof cuts in manpower of more than 10,000 personnel across all threeservices.

In 2002 when the FBU went on a nationwide strike, the Forces offered nearly 19,000 troops.

Source: Xinhua