CONCERNED councillors want to put the brakes on swapping Frizington’s fire engine for a smaller rapid response vehicle.

The controversial plans would also see conventional fire engines at Arnside and Staveley – as well as the second fire engine at Maryport – replaced with “more agile” and cheaper vehicles as part of a Cumbria-wide overhaul of the service.

The county council’s Local Committee for Copeland were not opposed to the roll-out of the sleeker fire car but did not feel this was the “right solution” for Frizington – and also did not want to lose the area’s traditional fire engine.

Arthur Lamb, Conservative councillor for Cleator Moor East and Frizington, raised a motion to oppose the plans until a more “through trial” of the pilot scheme had been carried out in his ward.

Presenting statistics to members, he said the Frizington station served a population of 10,200 while fire stations Arnside and Staveley served 4,000 and 2,100 people respectively.

The fire service claims the rapid response vehicles, which are £170,000 cheaper than the larger fire engines, are “more suitable to the risk, demand and geography of Cumbria.”

Cash-strapped fire also chiefs believe the modernisation will allow them to save money and maintain service levels.

But councillors sought reassurances that the new rapid response vehicles and smaller crew would be able to cope with larger blazes as they quizzed manager area Nathaniel Hooton, who is leading the reform.

Chris Whiteside, Conservative councillor for Egremont North and St Bees, said he felt the new fleet of fire vehicles would add something to the service but “in addition” to the conventional fire engine.

Mr Hooton insisted that the fire service would be able to provide “the same level of service” following the changes, adding: “The public aren’t going to notice the difference.”

Fire-fighters now have 45 of the familiar B-type models across Cumbria’s 38 fire stations.

The rapid response vehicles weigh about 3.5 tonnes, cost £80,000 and seat up to three firefighters – and will reach fires more quickly.

The traditional fire engines weigh 12 tonnes, cost £250,000, seat up to five firefighters – and can carry more equipment.

Advantages of the smaller vehicles include quicker response times, and stopping a fire getting worse until backup arrives.

According to the latest figures, firefighters deals with an average of 11 incidents per day across Cumbria, which Mr Hooton said was evidence of “low demand”.

The number of fire engines across the county is based on “historic demand” dating from 1945 and not on the present risk.