In 2003, UK civilian firefighters announced strike dates over a three month period. All three of the armed forces provided personnel and equipment to Operation Fresco as part of the response to the industrial action coordinated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The strikes began in November 2003 and continued until February 2004, with the main strikes occuring on these dates:
Wednesday November 13, 2003 until Friday November 15, 2003
Friday November 22, 2003 until Saturday November 30, 2003
Tuesday January 21, 2004 and Wednesday January 22, 2004
Tuesday January 28, 2004 until Thursday January 30, 2004
Saturday February 1, 2004 until Monday February 3, 2004

The armed forces deployed some 18,600 personnel,
Specifically the army deployed 827 Green Goddess fire engines
331 specialised teams lead by experienced armed forces firefighters using breathing apparatus and light cutting equipment (Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team).
59 regional-based teams were deployed equipped with advanced fire-fighting and rescue equipment (Rescue Equipment Support Team).

The RAF deployed 27 Red Goddess fire engines, adding 56 more as trained personnel came on stream and the vehicles became available.
During the course of the strike, the Armed Forces attended 10793 incidents, approximately 53% of the reported incidents.40% of the remainder were deemed as not requiring the attendance of firefighters, ie. floods or lift rescues, the remaining 7% being dealt with by Local Authority Fire Brigades.
On a number of occassions, striking firefighters left their picket line to assist firefighting efforts.

During Operation Fresco, forty-two Armed Forces personnel were injured while providing emergency cover.

Major incidents during the 8 days of the strike included:

22nd November 2003
Phoenix Steel Tube Factory Fire
On 22nd November, a fire broke out at the disused Phoenix Steel Tube Factory requiring, at the height of the fire, the attendance of 12 Green Goddesses, 6 Red Goddsees, 1 Rescue Equipment Support Team, 5 Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team (BART) with a total of 150 armed personnel to contain the fire. 3 soldiers were taken to hospital from this incident, suffering from smoke inhalataion and another sustained an eye injury. Ten other personnel were examined at the scene.

A lorry fire on the southbound M6 requiring 6 Green Goddesses, 2 Red Goddesses, 1 REST and 1 BART to attend. The carriageway was severely damaged with only one southbound lane open for a time and the Southbound M6 was later closed for emergency resurfacing.

23rd November 2003
A factory complex in Walgrave was the site of a fire in which gas cylinders were present in a nearby chemical works, Armed forces BARTS teams were successful in preventing the fire from becoming established or spreading to the cylinders.

27 November 2003
An aircraft en route from Manchester to Monastir declared an emergency for technicial difficulties and was diverted to Birmingham International Airport, three Green Goddesses and one Red fire engine were despatched to arrive before the aircraft as per standard practice, the aircraft landed safely at 9:20.

A commercial van containing nitrogen and refrigeration gases caught fire and two Green Goddesses were despatched. The police enforced a 200 metre corder and 150 civilians were evacuated from their homes while the fire was brought under control in an hour.

30 November 2003
JOCC (Joint Operational Control Centre), Colchester recieved a call at 6:30 reporting at fire in the Ramada Hotel. Retained firefighters and armed forces personnel responded, involving 2 Green Gosses, a BART and a REST. The fire was put out by 9:30 with the oepration handed to the Local Authority Fire Brigade.

Among the units participating were:

HQ 2 Brigade, Dove.
Region: South-East
12 Regiment, Royal Artillery, operational in Kent
1st Bn, Royal Anglian Regiment , operational in Surrey
Also Covered: West Sussex, East Sussex by RN units.

HQ 15 Brigade, York.
Region: Northeast
40 Regiment, Royal Artillery, operational in Northumberland (HQ 15 Brigade)
4 Regiment, Royal Artillery, operational in Tyne & Wear
40 Regiment, Royal Artillery, operational in Durham
Light Dragoons, operational in Cleveland
22 Engineer Regiment, RE, operational in West Yorkshire
38 Engineer Regiment, RE, operational in Humberside
1st Bn, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, South Yorkshire
Also Covered: North Yorkshire by RAF units.

HQ 42 Brigade, Preston.
Region: North West
Royal Dragoon Guards, operational in Cumbria
21 Engineer Regiment, operational in Lancashire
1st Bn, King's Regiment, operational in Greater Manchester
Queen's Royal Hussars, , operational in Greater Manchester
1st Bn, Queen's Lancashire Regiment, operational in Merseyside
1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, operational in Cheshire
1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, operational in Isle of Man

HQ 43 Brigade, Bulford.
Region: South West
27 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, operational in Gloucestershire
27 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, operational in Wiltshire
27 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, operational in Dorset
Also covered: Avon, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall by RN units.

HQ 49 Brigade, Chilwell.
Region: Eastern
22 Regiment, Royal Artillery, operational in Derbyshire
1st Bn, Cheshire Regiment , operational in Nottinghamshire
19 Regiment, Royal Artillery, operational in Northamptonshire
1st Bn, Cheshire Regiment, operational in Bedfordshire
16 Regiment, Royal Artillery, operational in Hertfordshire
Also Covered: Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire by RAF units

HQ 51 Brigade, Stirling.
Region:Scotland
2nd Bn, Royal Anglian Regiment, operational in Strathclyde
1st Bn, Royal Green Jackets, operational in Strathclyde
1st Bn, King's Own Scottish Borderers, operational in Lothian & Borders
16 Regiment, Royal Artillery, operational in Dumfries & Galloway
Also covered: Highlands, Grampian, Tayside by RAF units and Central, Fife by RN units.

HQ 143 Brigade, Shrewsbury.
Region: West Midlands
3 Close Support Regiment, RLC , operational in Staffordshire
1st Bn, Royal Regiment of Wales, operational in West Midlands
1st Bn, Welsh Guards, operational in West Midlands
1st Bn, Welsh Guards, operational in Warwickshire
Also Covered: Shropshire, Hereford & Worcestershire

HQ 145 Brigade, Aldershot.
Region: Home Counties
32 Regiment, Royal Artillery, operational in Oxfordshire
4 General Support Regiment, RLC, operational in Buckinghamshire
3 Close Support Regiment, RLC, operational in Berkshire
Also Covered: Hampshire, Isle of Wight by RAF units

HQ 160 Brigade, Brecon.
Region: Wales
Areas Covered: North Wales, Mid & West, South Wales by RAF units.

HQ London District, Chelsea Barracks.
Region: London
1st Bn, Scots Guards, operational in Greater London
1st Bn, Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, operational in Greater London
Household Cavalry, operational in Greater London
1st Bn, Grenadier Guards, operational in Greater London
1st Bn, Royal Welch Fusiliers, operational in Greater London

HQ Northern Ireland, Lisburn.
Region: Northern Ireland
1st Bn, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire & Wiltshire Regiment, operational in Northern Ireland
1st Bn, Royal Highland Fusiliers, operational in Northern Ireland