FIREFIGHTERS say plans to reduce the number of fire engines sent to automatic fire alarm call-outs could put lives at risk.

Lancashire Fire Authority wants to end the blanket policy of sending two fire engines to automatic alarms.

The authority said that only 1.6per cent of alarm call-outs turned out to actual fires. The rest were malicious or faults.

Under the proposals, two engines will be sent out only if it has been confirmed by a witness there is a fire or it is between 9pm and 8am or it involves premises containing vulnerable people. Fire Authority chiefs said that the effect of faulty alarm calls is the same as malicious calls in that it leads to resources being diverted away needlessly, and delays turn out times to real emergencies.

Pete O'Brien, Assistant Chief Officer for Lancashire Fire and Rescue, said: "The intention is to make Lancashire a safer place to be, to enhance the service and not reduce it in any way and target our resources where they are needed."

But Steve Harman, brigade secretary for Lancashire Fire Brigade Union, said: "We are not objecting outright to these proposals but we will be voicing our concerns about some of them.

"If a crew from Blackburn has to attend six automatic fire alarms during one shift then that is six times they are tied up.

"But at the same time it could be to the detriment of the public if they got to a fire which has progressed."

The FBU nationally has opposed the changes, which have been proposed by other fire authorities.