FIREfighters' leaders in the North-East said union members had backed the 24-hour strike "100 per cent".

It is hoped that Acas negotiations between union and employers being held today will be enough to avert further planned strike action on January 28 and February 1.

Cleveland Fire Brigade Union Chairman Kevin Gelders said the planned 48-hour strikes would "remain on the table unless the employers' pre-conditions to negotiations were removed".

In the latest 24-hour action there were 57 fire-related incidents in the North-East and 33 false alarms.

In Stockton, military firefighters saved two people from their home after it was set alight by arsonists.

They were called out at 6am yesterday to a flat at Staindale Gardens, in Newham Grange.

The 40-year-old owner woke up to find his stairway filled with smoke after the door of the flat was set alight.

A man and woman who were trapped upstairs were rescued by four Royal Air Force personnel wearing breathing apparatus .

The couple suffered from smoke inhalation and shock.

A homeless man had to be rescued from a building in South Bank, Middlesbrough, after reports of smoke at about 2am.

In County Durham there were 13 incidents but none were life-threatening and in North Yorkshire 12 incidents were reported including two road traffic accidents.