As many as 32 retained teams are being cut back

As many as 32 retained teams are being cut back, reducing some to just handing out safety advice on fire prevention.

The Fire Brigades Union said Holyrood ministers should step in with more cash to boost the volunteer stations.

But employers argued that the area was better served than ever.

They added that they could not allow poorly-equipped and under-trained crews to tackle house fires, risking their own safety.

Some part-timers will still be allowed to tackle moorland fires and attend road accidents, but 32 units will be relieved of their duties to deal with house fires.

Leading fire fighter Graham MacGregor is a volunteer in Strathpeffer, which is being taken over by Dingwall.

I think lives will most definitely be put at risk Fraser Parr Fire Brigades Union

He said: "It's a disgrace the way they've turned round and told us we're not needed after over 40 years of being here. We think we really are needed and the area needs us..

"We should not rely on a fire station from outwith our area to come and fight our fires and protect our community."

Mr MacGregor added: "We would be here 10 or 15 minutes before they would and we know the layout of the Strath and local knowledge is a great thing.

"We can have water on stand-by for when they arrive. We can do what we can, we can start fighting the fire before they arrive."

Meeting with ministers

The volunteers' battle is also supported by local people.

Businessman Ian White stressed that the Strathpeffer team was based in a rent-free depot and their pagers were paid for by the community council.

He said: "The fire brigade obviously has not carried out their duty. They haven't put forward enough training for these people.

"The unit itself has proved itself time and time again to be worthwhile. It must be brought forward into the 21st century and upgraded and we will not accept anything less."

Auxiliary teams are being backed by their full-time colleagues.

Regional leader of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), Fraser Parr, said: "I think lives will most definitely be put at risk now."

Controversy over the cuts has reached national level.

Leader of the FBU in Scotland, John MacDonald, said: "It is an expensive operation, but people in remote communities deserve to have people in their communities who are willing to help them when they are in trouble."

He added that a meeting would be sought with the Scottish Executive to address the issues.

He may go in and not only put the child's life at risk, but put his own life at risk Drew MacFarlane-Slack Highlands and Highlands Fire Board

But bosses of the Highlands and Islands Fire Board insisted millions of pounds had been pumped into revamping small, part-time stations in the region.

They underlined that a major training effort had been launched to enable many more crews to use breathing equipment.

Convener of the body, councillor Drew MacFarlane-Slack, said: "We know from our own history, we know from the statistics, that the societal pressure is real on a fire fighter who's not trained or equipped to deal with a structural fire if he's faced without breathing apparatus with a young child.

"He may go in and not only put the child's life at risk, but put his own life at risk."