undisclosed dispute.

But the action, which did not affect 911 emergency calls, was called off after a few hours following recommendations from lawyers.

Fire staff refused to carry out routine maintenance and administration work when they came on shift at the Hamilton Fire Station yesterday morning. But by lunchtime, normal service had resumed with fire officers agreeing to go back to full duties.

Last night, Chief Fire Officer Reginald Rawlins was unable to say what prompted the action but did confirm that some officers had been in contact with the Department of Labour Relations.

It is understood that the industrial action could have been called off because it is illegal.

In a similar situation last March, about 20 firefighters staged a walkout and vowed to only answer 911 calls over a number of issues.

But again the dispute was short lived after then Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness declared the action illegal. Mr. Edness was eventually able to defuse the situation by calling in a third party to act as mediator.

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