CONTROVERSIAL cost-cutting plans could create "dangerous" delays in getting an aerial ladder to major blazes in York, a union warned today.

The platform helps tackle high rise fires, and was scrambled to the Fulford Place flats inferno.

Under plans drawn up by fire chiefs, firefighters who currently man the three ladder appliances in North Yorkshire - at York, Harrogate and Scarborough - would leave their station posts and help boost community safety work.

But union officials said they were "extremely concerned" about this and warned of delays of up to 20 minutes.

Members of the North Yorkshire Fire Authority will discuss the plans at a special meeting next month.

They were due to make a decision this week, but it was agreed that new authority members needed briefing on this and other modernisation proposals before they voted.

Lee Smith, of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said currently, if brigade members decided at the scene that the ladder was needed, a two-man crew would drive it from York Fire Station.

However, if controversial changes are passed, he said two engines attending a blaze that needed the ladder would have to wait for a back-up crew to arrive - before they returned to the station to collect the platform and then return to the fire.

Mr Smith said: "We feel this delay is extremely dangerous to firefighters, puts the lives of the community at greater risk and will considerably reduce the effectiveness of firefighting operations."

York area fire manager Steve Cluderay admitted that if plans were passed there might not be anyone manning the ladder at stations.

But he said he thought more lives would be saved by having extra officers on roving fire prevention work.

Mr Cluderay added: "The number of times the ladder has saved a life is very small. But the final decision will be taken by the fire authority.

"They are all well aware of these claims and proposals - they will have to weigh up the evidence put before them."

He said he believed the proposals - which were deferred at a meeting in February for further consultation with staff and to look at possible alternatives - would not have made any difference in the Fulford fire, as the station was fully manned at the time.

The Evening Press has already reported how, under the Integrated Risk Management Plan, a transit-style van carrying two firefighters could arrive first at a house blaze after a 999 call, if it was nearer than a standard engine.

Bosses said this would make better use of resources and save more lives.

The ladder and van proposals are due to be discussed by fire authority members on July 13 at Easingwold fire training centre, after a fact-finding seminar for councillors on the modernisation programme on June 30.

Updated: 10:34 Wednesday, June 15, 2005