Fire cover could be cut across Sussex to save money, sparking fears lives will be lost in major blazes.

East Sussex Fire Authority bosses have drawn up plans to alter shift patterns which could see 36 firefighters removed from the front line - or fewer fire engines available to be called out.

Firefighters and politicians last night spoke out against the plans, saying they put the lives of both residents and fire crews in danger.

The proposals have been published by East Sussex Fire Authority in its annual risk management plan.

One of the options, called variable crewing, would see a reduction in the number of night time fire appliances at a station, most likely Brighton or Hastings.

Fire stations are fully staffed at all times but statistics show most call outs are made during the day.

Another option, the annualised hours system, would reduce the number of people based at each of the county's stations.

There would still be the same number of crews on call but fewer people at each base.

It could see staff numbers at Brighton and Eastbourne cut by nine, Hove by seven, Hastings by five and Roedean and The Ridge in Hastings by three.

A senior firefighter, who asked not to be named, said: "It would increase risks and put the public in grave danger.

"I do not see why the front line staff has to keep taking hits.

"The public should be concerned if they go for variable crewing because it would be taking fire engines out.

"And if they go for annualised hours it would mean less front line firefighters.

"Currently we have enough people to cover absenteeism, annual leave, courses and training.

"Annualised hours would mean the loss of 36 posts across East Sussex."

A third option would see a continuation of the current shift patterns, the option favoured by most firefighters.

The final option would see a combination of the three proposals put into practice.

The firefighter said: "The fire service statistics which show activity during the night decreases are misleading.

"The figures they have used are for the number of call outs made at night but 50 per cent of fire deaths occur at night.

"We have had a system which has been in operation for 30 years and it works."

The fire authority will meet with unions in January to discuss the proposals.

The public consultation period ends on December 20.

A series of meetings will be held at the stations to provide staff with more details on the proposals.

The Argus revealed in September how cutbacks meant East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was on occasions left without any long ladders to tackle blazes.

In 2005 the service had five appliances but firefighters spoke out after they were left to cover the county without enough aerial ladders - meaning specialist equipment could have to be brought in from as far away as Chichester or Tunbridge Wells for incidents in tall buildings.

East Sussex Fire Authority chairman Mike Murphy admitted the latest proposals could see jobs moved away from the stations.

He said: "The Government grant settlement for the next three years is very tight, and I mean very tight, although we have not had the final figure.

"I'm not saying that somewhere down the line there could be some savings but at the moment it is subject to negotiation.

"It is a possibility there will be posts taken out of the system.

"Redundancy is not the order of the day but redeployment might be."

East Sussex Fire Authority director of risk management Gary Pearson said: "The proposals are about how we can reorganise the slack.

"Each year without exception we reconsider the service and organisation.

"I can understand how firefighters have come to their point of view but I have to say the service people will receive will be improved.

"When people call 999 they will get a fire engine with the same number of crew within the same time frame as they have always done."

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper said he was unhappy with cuts to the service.

He said: "I would be concerned by any proposals that put at risk the lives of the citizens of Brighton and Hove or the firefighters."

Hastings MP Michael Foster said: "You must never send out firefighters in numbers which do not ensure their own safety.

"As a principle, firefighters are the best people to know what is an adequate number of people in a crew.

"I do not know of any change in the equipment available to firefighters which makes entry into a multi-storey building any safer now that it was a few years ago when these staffing levels were set."

To comment on the proposals visit www.esfrs.org or call 0845 1308855.