This follows a government decision to take neighbouring fire stations “off line” on occasions due to a policy of not replacing fire fighters unable to work.

Fire Brigades Employees Union (FBEU) secretary, Simon Flynn, said brigades could be short on retained fire fighters due a number of reasons including sickness or work commitments. The FBEU wants the brigades to be able to call in help from other stations to bring them to operational strength and being able to turn out.

Mr. Flynn said that under the Commissioners instruction (In Order 2008/22) all three of the nearest brigades to the Cessnock brigade could be closed at the same time.

“Kearsley, Bellbird and Abermain are all identified as surplus to the Commissioner’s requirements. This means that should this occur the Cessnock brigade will be left stranded without any of the three nearest brigades able to back up the brigade from Cessnock.

“A delayed response from the surrounding brigades could have devastating consequences for the community if Cessnock brigade is tied up at a protracted incident or indeed if Cessnock attend a major incident that requires an immediate response.

“The consequences for the residents, the community, local businesses and for the infrastructure could well be catastrophic,” he said.

He added that something in the order of 12 per cent of the State’s fire brigades are funded by local councils and if services are not available they (councils) are getting short changed.

An angry meeting of dozens of local Newcastle and Hunter fire fighters met recently and resolved to push for industrial action over a NSW Government decision to take half a dozen local fire stations "off line" on occasion, due to the policy of not replacing local fire fighters unable to work.