Pressed repeatedly this morning, Mr Hoon said the option of using the fire service's fleet of modern engines, both for training and operation, was now "under review" as the government faced a further eight-day fire strike next week.
The deputy prime minister, John Prescott, is due to make a statement to MPs today on the current state of the strike, and emergency cover by the army using green goddesses.
The government has so far backed away from forcing the firefighters to hand over the engines - many of which are now rented to the fire service on PFI deals - for fear of "inflaming" negotiations.
However, the Conservative leader, Iain Duncan Smith, has made repeated demands at prime minister's questions for the army to be allowed access to the 2,300 red engines now in fire stations, rather than rely on the 800 or so green goddesses, which are all around 40 years old.
Today's Daily Mail adds to the pressure with a front page splash demanding: "Give us OUR fire engines."
Mr Hoon also implied that further strikes could hinder a military operation against Iraq.
"We have not actually taken any decision to send troops to the Middle East in the event of a conflict," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning.
"But clearly it is something I have to have to regard in balancing the various commitments that our armed forces are engaged on.
"What is important is that we maintain the protection of the British public, in this case in relation to the consequences of a fire strike, in that case in relation to the threat that Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction might pose.
"It is a balancing exercise that secretaries of state for defence have to engage on."
Mr Hoon sought to play down speculation that any attack will be launched in January or February before the heat of the Iraqi summer makes action more difficult.
"I am not going to go into details about any possible dates," he said.
"I can assure you that our troops, American troops, the troops of other allies are trained to cope with some very demanding conditions in the heat.
"You should not make any assumptions about the timing of any military action."
