An MP has called on the government to intervene and stop proposed cuts to Greater Manchester Fire Service.
Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton, said the plans would leave the service 'crippled and paralysed' to react to major incidents.
He is the second senior politician to question the cuts planned by mayor Andy Burnham.
Last month, Trafford council's Labour leader Andrew Western said he could not support the mayor's 'programme for change', raising particular concerns about a proposal to cut the number of firefighters on each engine.
Coun Western, whose father was a firefighter and FBU brigade secretary, said that could risk both public and firefighter safety, adding that he could not back the plan in its current form as a result.
As reported in the Manchester Evening News, 100 support staff jobs will be axed and six fire stations closed across the region under plans by bosses to balance the books.
The number of fire engines would be reduced from 56 to 47.
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The number of firefighters riding on all appliances would reduce from five to four.
The six stations earmarked to close are Bolton Central and Bolton North; Stockport, King Street, and Stockport, Whitehill; plus Philips Park and Manchester Central.
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If the six stations shut, they would be replaced with three new ones, which will cost £3m to £4m each. Potential sites for them have already been identified.
The nine engines will go from Manchester Central, Blackley, Heywood, Moss Side, Oldham, and Eccles, Salford, Gorton, and Bolton.
Management have conceded that, on average, response times will increase by about ten seconds. One union said the cuts would make the residents of Greater Manchester 'less safe'.
In addition the number of firefighters at the brigade's retained stations - where crews work during the day but are on call at night - will be reduced from 12 to nine. The stations are at Ramsbottom, Littleborough, Horwich, Irlam, Marple and Mossley.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) must slash £10m from its budget this year. In total over three years, bosses must save £12.8m.
Mr McMahon, commenting on plans, branded 'simply absurd' by the Fire Brigades Union, said: "The government must cease and desist with their attacks on our essential services. I will be doing all I can to minimise the impact of these cuts on frontline firefighters.
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"This announcement deeply troubles me and raises serious concerns for the safety of mine and other constituents in Greater Manchester.
"GMFRS covers 493 square miles which includes just over 2.8m residents. These cuts represent a significant risk to people all over Greater Manchester.
"The cuts to staff do not stop with frontline firefihgters. There are plans to remove non-uniformed staff, with firefighters tasked with picking up all the extra work. This is nonsensical."
The service has just taken delivery of 24 new engines and a new 42-metre hydraulic platform, based at Manchester Central.
Potentially, 113 support staff posts could be lost. These include prevention work, like community safety, and youth engagement, plus some administration posts.
It would see the number of civilian support workers reduced from 423 to 310 - a 27 per cent cut. It is hoped posts would be shed through natural wastage and voluntary severance.
Firefighters will be asked to do more protection and prevention work insteed, but it will be targeted at the most vulnerable in the community.
There are currently 1,239 front line firefighters, compared to 2,200 in 1996.
County Fire Officer, Jim Wallace, commenting on the budget cuts said: "Mr Wallace, commenting on the budget proposals, said: "I don't think this is radical, it's good business sense."
He added: "The package of proposals that we put together ensures that we still provide not only a safe system of service delivery, but a safe system for our employees."
Mr Burnham, speaking at a meeting of the Combined Authority for Greater Manchester last month, said austerity had been a key part of the cuts plans.
“This is the product of cuts to public services and the fire service over nine years and all fire services we are not alone in that.
“Combined with that we are still about £1m out of pocket from the moorland fires last summer.”
The mayor's office declined to comment on Mr McMahon's statement.
