REPORTS that six fire stations are to close on Teesside have been dismissed by a fire chief as rumours.
Chief fire officer John Doyle said changes are planned to the service but that there has been no decision made to close six fire stations.
He also said members of the public need to be reassured about what is happening.
He said: "We make no secret of the fact that changes will be made throughout the whole of the fire service.
"We have been tasked with producing a new risk assessment plan geared towards meeting the needs of the modern society in which we live.
"That plan has not yet been made, but it will bring about changes to improve the service we provide to the community we serve.''
He said the community's safety remained the brigade's main concern and that any decisions on the service made by members of the Cleveland Fire Authority would only be made following full consultation with members of the public.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article