Tyne and Wear fire authority have voted to remove a fire engine from both Swalwell and Wallsend fire stations.
Dave Turner, local Fire Brigades Union secretary, said: “This is a very sad day for firefighters in Tyne and Wear, and the loss of both engines will lead to poorer attendance times and an increased risk to the public and firefighters.
“The decision is particularly disappointing given the huge reserves the fire authority currently possesses.
“Although we cautiously welcome the decision to safeguard the three fire stations themselves until June 2017, proposals to remove four more fire engines and lose 131 jobs over the next three years would devastate our fire and rescue service and put lives at risk.
“We have an emergency meeting tomorrow and will be discussing our next moves”.
Fire crews from Swalwell recently took part in the national floods deployment to the Thames Valley, but the FBU says that the cuts would make such cooperation difficult in the future.
