LIVES are being ‘put at risk’ due to the replacement of a fire engine with a modified Land Rover, according to Windermere residents.

One of the town’s two pumps – which had breathing appar-atus, 120 metres of hose reel and could hold 1,800 litres of water – has been rep-laced with a vehicle, which does not carry breathing apparatus and holds just 200 litres of water.

“I’m very concerned for the safety of both residents and visitors in Windermere,” said town councillor Jenn-ifer Jewell. “It is putting lives at risk.

“The new vehicle isn’t adequate to deal with a fire on its own and not having brea-thing apparatus is dangerous because firemen can’t go into fires.”

Coun Jewell, whose husband was a fire fighter in the town for 26 years, said: “The engine we had had another ten years of use. This one is not fit for purpose.

“It will happen one day that the fire engine is out and this (vehicle) is called to an incident but it isn’t adequate.

“It is frightening when you think about it.”

Former fireman and town councillor Mich-ael Stafford said: “The people of Windermere need to be made aware of what is happening. It is not capable of doing anything.”

A Windermere fire-man, who did not want to be named, said a meeting of fire personnel three years ago was told the new vehicle would carry five men but he claim-ed it only carries four.

He said they were also told it would have breathing appartus and would hold 500 litres of water.

“If there is a fire in Windermere this new vehicle is a complete waste of time,” he said.

Another Windermere fireman, who also requested anonymity, said: “It is a complete joke. It’s like toy town.”

Duncan Taylor, of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said the proposal to rep-lace the second pump at Windermere, Grange, Millom and Keswick was part of an integrated risk management plan in 2007/08, which went through a public consultation in 2006 and was passed by Cumbria County Council.

He said the new vehicle would provide ‘flexibility’ and resp-ond to a ‘greater range of incidents’ such as fires in remote locations and heath fires.

“The response standard has not changed. At a property fire you have two fire engines but the second, in effect, carries people and all the equipment needed is on the first engine.

“If a large response is needed we have vehicles from Ambleside, Staveley and Kendal, as we had before,” said Mr Taylor.