Members of the Fire Brigades Union are warning proposed cutbacks to appliances in Fife could have devastating consequences for both communities and firefighters.
About 60 firefighters protested outside Fife Council's headquarters in Glenrothes this morning (Thursday) as crunch talks over proposed service cutbacks take place.
It's after controversial plans to reduce the number of appliances in the kingdom were unveiled.
If they go ahead, Glenrothes, Methil and Dunfermline would each lose one pump and the height appliance in Kirkcaldy would go.
Steven Reid, the union rep for Glenrothes fire station, said: "We have real concerns about the rate of response and the effectiveness of our first response when we arrive somewhere.
"It will increase the risk to firefighters and the community.
"We've already had over 1,000 firefighter lost in the last 10 years and this is looking like it could be another 200, so it could have devastating consequences for the community and our safety.
"We feel that we are more safe with more or quicker response.
"If you cut one fire engine you cut them all, that's how we feel. This has been done with no consultation. They're using the words temporary but people are being told it will be a permanent move, nothing is going to be temporary."
He said fire service policy means a minimum of two fire appliances is needed before firefighters can enter a burning building over 18 metres high, meaning a single crew having to wait outside for up to 15 minutes until back-up arrived.
Firefighters at the protest called for more investment in the service, which is funded by the Scottish Government.
They said that some fire stations do not have running water and do not have showers to let people get decontaminated on return from an incident.
Stuart Taylor, a firefighter of 15 years based in Dunfermline, added: "We're getting cuts imposed on us and have been dressed up as 'mothballing' but we're not stupid we know its a guise. These appliances get taken away and won't be coming back.
"Cuts cost lives. We're going to have less appliances, less people, people are going to have to wait longer for an appliance, turning up with one pump and we don't have enough people to deal with what's happening.
"We're here today in our numbers to lobby and show we mean business and won't roll over and accept it."
Firefighters from all over Fife, east Scotland and as far away as Aberdeen and Glasgow were all in attendance at the protest, which was arranged two days ago.
The general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union Matt Wrack was also in attendance with Colin Brown executive council of members for the union
Matt told Kingdom FM: "I think its disgraceful round of cuts facing the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
"We were told when the service was created that it would protect jobs and protect the level of service, we are now facing cuts to 13 stations across Scotland and that's all been done without adequate public consultation.
"It's been called mothballing and we find that quite an insulting phrase to use. We don't think those jobs or fire engines will come back if this goes through. Politicians in Scotland need to wake up and stop this from happening.
"You can see the anger of firefighters here and we will be out in local communities talking to councillors, MSPs to make the case that these cuts have to stop.
"What happens when these engines aren't available, firefighters will be waiting longer for support to arrive, maybe 15-20 minutes and that's not acceptable."
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