SCOTLAND'S most senior firefighter says the service needs a "fundamental redesign" with staffing leaving up to 100 fire engines out of action daily.
Chief Fire Officer Alasdair Hay said between 60 and 100 on call pumps are unavailable each day across Scotland as he made clear a new service model was needed to "make sure we've got the right resources in the right place at all times".
He spoke out after BBC Scotland reported the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was looking to "re-balance" firefighter numbers and review its "station footprint".
An internal fire service document seen by the BBC stated: "The Scottish Fire Service is operating against a backdrop of both significantly changing risks and the greatest financial challenges seen in decades."
While no fire stations have yet been identified for closure, the report said sites could be shut would be "predominantly in large urban locations - where certain stations have low call-outs, attend large numbers of false alarms and have a high concentration of surrounding stations, personnel and equipment".
It highlighted the need for "more effective deployment of resources in urban areas where we have an historically high concentration of stations".
Hay told the Good Morning Scotland programme: "We're here to save lives and protect property, we need to do something and we need to redesign the service to make sure we've got the right resources in the right place at all times and that is a serious question that we are putting to our staff.
"What we are asking is how can we deliver this service in a different way.
"Our current service delivery model has served the country tremendously well, we're an amazing public service and firefighters do amazing work everyday. But there are fundamental changes in the risks that we face, such as terrorism.
"We understand that there is financial pressures out there and we are working very very closely with the Scottish Government at this moment in time on the redesign on the fire service and to ensure it is properly and sufficiently funded.
"We have between 60 and 100 on call pumps unavailable each day, that is something we know."
He added: "What we are talking about here is not cuts - and I have heard that term bandied about - what we are talking about is a fundamental redesign of the service."
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was formed in 2013 after eight regional fire brigades were merged into a single nationwide organisation.
Opposition leaders raised fears that any cuts could impact on public safety, with Justice Secretary Michael Matheson facing calls to answer questions on the issue at Holyrood.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: "The SNP has already cut Police Scotland to the bone, now it wants to do the same to the fire brigade.
"These are extremely stark warnings about the future of the organisation.
"The SNP insisted on creating a single fire service for Scotland on the basis it would be cost-effective and provide a better service.
"But with these cuts in the pipeline, it's hard to see how that can happen, and there have to be questions about the impact on public safety."
Labour justice spokeswoman Claire Baker said Scots would be shocked at the idea of cuts being made to such a vital service.
"With fire safety so fresh in our minds following the tragic events of Grenfell it scarcely seems believable that our fire service has to make further cuts," she said.
"Labour has put the issue of protecting the fire and rescue budget directly to Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister's Questions, only to see her dodge the question. Now we know why.
"Our emergency services should not bear the brunt of further austerity. These proposals should be published as a matter of urgency and Michael Matheson should explain what is going on to the Scottish Parliament today."
Denise Christie of the Fire Brigades Union told BBC Radio Scotland: "It's really concerning for the Fire Brigades Union, we were told by the Scottish Government that the transformation from eight former brigades into one Scottish Fire and Rescue Service would protect the front line and it has not.
"We've seen over 700 front line firefighter posts lost, we've seen the closure of five operational control rooms, and we're seeing engines lie idle.
"We were told the single fire service would protect the front line, yes we still have got 356 fire stations that are open, but not all the fire appliances are available in all of the stations all of the time.
"Firefighters are sick to the back teeth of coming into work and seeing fire engines being unavailable, and it's unacceptable."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here