A THIRD of Lancashire's fire engines could be axed from the front line after a report by bosses said they were not needed.

And the brigade is also investigating whether to introduce smaller fire trucks to deal with nuisance fires which plague East Lancashire.

The report says that the 60 engines on duty at peak time between 3pm and 11pm could be cut to 39 as blaze deaths were at an all-time low while fire safety was at a record high.

Some of the engines stood down from emergency work could instead be used for fire safety demonstrations, according to the report.

But Pendle councillor David Whipp said: "These are drastic cuts and must be opposed. Quite frankly it is astounding that they are even being considered."

And on a weekend which saw one of Britain's worst firefighting tragedies in Warwickshire, Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "The smaller fire trucks can't be as effective as the larger ones and we are worried the level of cover won't be the same."

The secretary of the Lancashire Fire Brigades' Union hit out at the report and said they feared the document "was a vehicle to implement cuts".

East Lancashire council leaders said that cutting the number of fire engines could put lives at risk.

They also hit out at the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service after it emerged a 12-week public consultation period on the report ended today.

But none of council leaders questioned by the Lancashire Telegraph said they had heard of the proposals.

They said the fire service should have publicised the document more.

A spokesman for the brigade said that the document had been put on the fire authority website, at community venues such as doctor's surgeries and libraries and sent to councils.

Bosses said firm proposals would be presented to Lancashire Fire Authority's planning committee later this month, before being debated in full on December 17.

Fire bosses used a computer modelling exercise to investigate cover and patterns of demand before compiling the report - called an integrated risk management plan which all forces have to produce for the year ahead.

No firm details have been released about the type of smaller trucks that could be used or the number of firefighters needed to man them.

However it has been revealed that they cost £100,000 to kit out and equip.

Steve Harman, Fire Brigades' Union secretary for Lancashire, said that the service faced financial pressures as the Government caps council tax rises to five per cent.

But he said that while 39 appliances might cover normal levels of demand there would be no back-up up if the remaining 21 fire engines were not ready on a busy shift.

Mr Harman said: "We have had concerns about the integrated risk management plan as we feel it has been used as a vehicle to implement cuts to the operational side of the fire service in Lancashire.

"We have 60 fire appliances, not including the special service vehicles. But it is disingenous to say that we only need 39 appliances to deal with incidents."

Gordon Birtwistle, leader of Burnley Council, said he was not happy this "vital service" was being considered for the axe.

He said: "If it is affecting fire services in Burnley then we should be made aware of it so we can make our views known.

"We at Burnley Borough Council are not prepared to see any cuts in any services."

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Colin Rigby also said the report had not been brought to his attention.

He said: "I have great concerns. I don't understand how cutting the number of fire engines can possibly lead to the same level of service in the future. I will be making inquiries."

Coun Britcliffe said he was not aware of the plans.

He said: "I think people will be frightened by this news.

"I don't care what anybody says, people will not be as safe with a lower level of fire engine cover.

"I will be vigorously opposing these proposals and I am sure all of the other council leaders in the county will be."

Fire Authority chairman Robert Wilkinson said: "A decision will be made at the end of the consultation. I can't say any more until that consulattion has finished."

Peter O'Brien, Lancashire's deputy chief fire officer, said the 60 fire engines were not always available for use as some maybe used for training exercises and others staffed by retained firefighters.

He said he was confident any changes would be effective and added: "It is only right and proper that we ask questions about the way in which we deliver our services in terms of risk and demand. "