HASLEMERE firefighters will be reluctantly getting out their brazier again next week,if the latest one- day strike goes ahead.

The next 24-hour strike is due to start at 9 am on January 21.

"We are really reluctant to do this and hoping that a better pay offer will come through before next Tuesday," said Ray Esher, leading firefighter with White Watch.

A firefighter for 19 years, nearly 15 of them at Haslemere, Mr Esher said that he and his colleagues "have been forced into a corner."

He said that he shared the concerns of the Fire Brigades' Union over what are described as "a government move to slash fire services in secret".

After twice surviving the threat of Haslemere being downgraded to a retained fire station, Mr Esher and his colleagues are among those worried that Haslemere could be one of the 150 fire stations targeted for downgrading or closure if new moves went ahead.

At the top of the list of concerns is the possible abolition of Section 19, which Mr Esher said would give the authorities carte blanche to close fire stations.

"Haslemere could lose its fire station overnight, and there could be the loss of 4,000 firemen across the country," said Mr Esher.

He criticised those who have not considered the Pathfinder report which said that the fire brigade was "grossly underfunded".

"Now they are going down the route of the Bain report and that is all about cuts," he said.

Mr Esher said if Haslemere were to be downgraded it would leave the nearest full-time fire stations as far away as Farnham, Guildford, Bognor Regis and Chichester.

But he was hopeful that the campaign, which was won in Scotland to overthrow the attempted abolition of Section 19 of the 1947 Fire Services Act, would be repeated when the matter comes before the House of Commons next month.

"At least it would work as a safeguard to the community," said Mr Esher.

The deputy chief officer for Surrey fire and rescue, Ray Bosdet, said it was "very, very early days" to talk about downgrading or closures.

"Certainly, the second reading of the local government bill took place place last Tuesday by Nick Raynesford, the Minister for Local Government. Central government is looking clearly to repeal Section 19, and my understanding is that any downgrading, closing or removal of establishment would be dealt with on a local basis through Surrey County Council."

But he concluded: "There are no thoughts this moment in time in utilising Section 19 in the county."