MORE than 200 firefighters have written to Lancashire's chief fire officers warning against the prospect of reduced cover across the county.

Bosses at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service insist that their latest integrated risk management programme (IRMP) is not merely a smokescreen for further cuts to the number of fire engines deployed across the area.

But the Fire Brigades' Union is not convinced and persuaded 205 members to write to deputy chief fire officer Peter O'Brien, to voice their concerns about any moves to reduce the number of fire engines.

The union is also worried about any proposals to introduce smaller fire trucks' currently used in Merseyside and Cheshire, to tackle more minor fires.

Fire brigade consultants Active Solutions Europe had undertaken computer modelling exercises which showed that the service could manage with 38 appliances, out of a current roll of 60, and still meet emergency response targets.

Extra consultation is now planned by the county fire service - particularly focusing on this issue - before the brigade's next major emergency cover review in 2009.

Mr O'Brien says in a report to Lancashire Fire Authority: "Following consultation, it is evident that significant support exists for further consideration of the principles explored as part of the IRMP Action Plan.

"Equally it is apparent that the potential outcomes - i.e. changes in the deployment arrangements of one or more specific fire engines, is understandably viewed as a major consultation issue in its own right."

He is recommending that any explicit proposals to change the makeup of the fire service should be the subject of a separate consultation process.

Steve Harman, FBU secretary in Lancashire, said of the exercise: "The FBU is extremely concerned that some of the questions contained within the consultation questionnaire indicate a thinly-veiled hidden agenda to reduce the number of fire appliances available at night."