FIREFIGHTERS will be balloted on whether to strike if reductions are made to the number of officers sent out on engines.

The move was revealed as the government announced that Blackburn and Burnley could get new fire stations.

The fire authority is proposing to reduce the number of firefighters sent out on an engine from five to four in a bid to save £1.15million a year.

Firefighters taken off front-line duty would be sent to work in the department which promotes fire safety and prevention.

Currently two fire engines (10 firefighters) are sent out to emergency calls. Under the future plans three (12 firefighters) would be sent out.

However, Steve Harman, secretary of the Lancashire Fire Brigades' Union, said one of these engines would be sent from another town, which he claimed could lead to delays in getting the required number of firefighters at an incident.

He also said that four firefighters per engine was not enough to adequately undertake the different roles needed in a serious emergency - from driving the engine to tasks outside the building and actually fighting a fire..

Mr Harman added: "It will put lives at risk.

"If they approve this we will have no option but to ballot for industrial action. We will fight this. We are not prepared to compromise our safety or the public's."

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Burnley and Blackburn could be in line for new fire stations from a £125million pot of PFI (Private Finance Initiative) funding.

Lancashire fire chiefs have welcomed the news but stressed that while Burnley and Blackburn could get new venues, the final decision on which towns will benefit would only be made after an extensive review due to start next year.

Peter Holland, Lancashire chief fire officer, said: "We are delighted at the government's announcement regarding the allocation of funds to develop our provision in Lancashire.

"That will include looking at fire station provision and it's clear a fresh look is needed at the specifications of new buildings and refurbishment for stations in 2006."

Mr Harman added: "We would welcome any new building so long as they are built in the right place and they are resourced with enough firefighters."