RESERVE crews have dealt with more than 50 emergencies during the ongoing firefighters strike, which ends at 6pm.
They included a house fire that broke out during a Halloween party, a blaze at an elderly couple's bungalow and a flat fire in Derby.
All three incidents were preventable, fire service bosses said.
Other call-outs since the strike began on Friday were mainly to fires in the open and road accidents.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) walked out on Friday evening and stayed out until 6pm night over a bitter row with the Government over retirement ages and pensions.
In Derbyshire, reserve crews were drafted in to respond to emergencies – and they were kept busy.
The Halloween house party that was wrecked by fire happened in Sandiacre.
The blaze – caused by a candle setting fire to a curtain – broke out just 40 minutes after the strike action began.
Two 13-year-old children were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
The bungalow fire happened at 11.30am on Monday. An elderly couple returned to the property, in Hillcrest Road, Chaddesden, and were faced with a wall of smoke when they opened the front door.
They quickly shut the door and called the fire service.
Reserve firefighters put out the fire, which was also caused by a candle that they left unattended.
The third preventable fire also took place on Monday, shortly before 10pm.
Reserve crews had to rescue a man from his flat in Drewery Court, Uttoxetter New Road, following a fire.
An investigation found the man returned home and attempted to cook while drunk.
Assistant chief fire officer Gavin Tomlinson admitted the fires were frustrating.
He said: "This was the third preventable fire our reserve crews had to deal with during the FBU firefighters strike.
"Some simple fire safety precautions could have prevented all of these fires. Candle safety and not cooking after consuming alcohol are just two common causes of fire that, as a service, we try to raise awareness of and prevent.
"Thankfully no one was injured, but next time it could be a different story.
"I would encourage everyone to stay vigilant and be aware that fire can happen to anyone. Our website has a wealth of fire safety advice and information for keeping safe, not only at home, but on the roads and at work."
