Firefighters in Sydney, N.S., are trying to extinguish a proposal to fold three fire halls into one.

The recommendation is contained in a report from Risk Management Services, a company that advises municipalities on fire protection plans.

The company says closing three fire stations in Sydney and opening a central fire hall would result in better service and cut down on maintenance costs.

Firefighters disagree, saying it would take them longer to respond to fires, and that could put people at risk.

"If you're going to Membertou from Station 1, and then you're going to go from a new location in Ashby to Membertou, it's just going to be longer," said Jody Wrathall, president of the local firefighters' association.

"If it takes an extra two minutes to get to a house fire, instead of fighting a kitchen fire we're fighting a fully involved structure fire."

The union has launched a public relations campaign to try to kill the idea of one central fire hall. It took out a full-page ad in the local newspaper last weekend and held a public meeting Monday night.

Sandra Dunn worries what would happen if the recommendation is implemented.

"The biggest thing is response time," said Dunn, who lives in Whitney Pier just minutes from one of the fire stations that would be shut down. "If you're over in town, you can't get down here as fast as you can if you're here."

The report will be discussed Tuesday at a meeting of the protective services committee of Cape Breton regional council.

Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger, chair of the committee, said his biggest worry is about the cost of a new fire station, which could top $6 million.