Fire Brigades Union campaigns against North Yorkshire plans

The changes affects six of the county's 38 fire stations

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is to launch a campaign and website against plans for fewer firefighters in North Yorkshire.

The union said about 40 full-time posts could go and would "have a major detrimental impact" on safety.

The changes affect six of the county's 38 fire stations with an annual saving up to £1.5m a year, said the service.

Plans would see a "more cost-effective service and better match resources to risk levels", it said.

Firefighters are to hand out leaflets in Ripon and a website is to be launched on Friday.

The stations where changes are proposed are Harrogate, Malton, Northallerton, Ripon, Scarborough and Tadcaster.

Reduce staffing levels

The options include replacing fire engines with smaller vehicles crewed by fewer staff or replacing day-crewed engines with a mix of full and part-time or retained staff.

The number of full-time posts being cut would depend on which options are chosen, the service said.

It previously said it hoped to reduce staffing levels without the need for compulsory redundancies.

The number of incidents it attended has reduced by a third over the last 10 years from 10,420 in 2004-5 to 6,874 in 2014-5.

There are currently 46 standard fire engines and 21 specialist response units at its stations, according to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

A consultation closes in October, with the fire authority considering the plans in December.

Any changes approved could begin in April 2016.