Two fires last night have prompted firefighters to renew their warning that potential cuts to frontline services will have a “devastating impact” on waiting times.

A garage fire in Worcester Park at 8pm involving gas cylinders, and a kitchen fire in Banstead an hour later where a woman suffered smoke inhalation, meant both of Epsom’s fire engines were on call, along with engines from Esher, Reigate and Guidford.

A spokesman for Epsom fire station said that further cuts to the force would leave the area, from the London boundary to Gatwick airport, severely understaffed leading to possible fatalities.

He said: “We were stretched last night, and that was even without the cuts hitting.

“The incidents were small but we used five engines.

“We are all worried that if these plans are implemented, people in the region will have their lives endangered.”

Firefighters have spoken out repeatedly over the past four months following Surrey County Council’s publication of the public safety plan which proposes to reduce Epsom’s services from two 24-hour engines, to two during the day and just one during the evening.

Surrey claims the new standard would reduce costs as well as improve the service - but firefighters, led by FBU official James Tigwel say that it would raise the response times to nearly double what they are currently.

Under the public safety plan, Surrey County Council is proposing that a fire engine should be in attendance within 10 minutes, but Mr Tigwell claims that this would be nearer to 13 minutes, taking into account the time it takes to mobilise the vehicle.

Surrey Fire and Rescue area Manager Gavin Watts said: “No fire authority would do anything to jeopardise safety.

“We coped last night and we will cope just as well after the public safety plan. We are trying to match the demand with the need - most incidents don’t take place in the hours between 7pm and 7am.

“We are looking to build better links with London services and feel that we have sufficient resources across the borough. ”