Hoaxers appeared tonight to be giving army firefighters in Northern Ireland an easier time than during last week's 48 hour strike.
Firefighters began an eight-day strike this morning after talks with employers over pay failed to reach a deal.
A PSNI spokesperson said that between the start of the strike action at 9am and 5pm there had been 18 999 calls, three of which were hoaxes.
Seven of the calls were adjudged to be genuine and the Yellow Goddesses were deployed three times. The balance of calls were false alarms, said a police spokesman.
Earlier today a senior army officer said that soldiers will not cross picket lines to gain access to red fire engines.
Lieutenant Colonel Roland Ladley, the commander of Northern Ireland's fire and rescue group, said his troops would not jeopardise the neutral position of the fire service.
Lt Col Ladley said he was confident that the just over 1,000 troops under his command could provide basic fire cover with the equipment they have at their disposal, including 32 yellow goddesses.
"We are here to provide a basic cover of firefighting and to save lives and we're equipped to do that, we're well trained to do that and we will do the best we can," he said.
PA