Instead, he believes Fife's communities are set to "benefit under a plan to share equipment and resources".

The scheme, which will see resources spread among the three services, is set to come into operation from as early as January if it is met with approval from Tayside and Central Scotland authorities.

There has been wide criticism of the plans, which have sparked fears that resources may be spread too thinly within the three areas taking part, and the plan is effectively a cost-cutting exercise.

However, Mr Campbell has stressed this will not be the case.

He said: "At our meeting in September I gave the Police Fire and Safety Committee my unequivocal reassurance that this is not an agenda for merging three fire and rescue services but, rather, a way of actually enhancing existing frontline services in a time of huge financial pressures.

"Fires and major incidents have no set boundaries. Each of the services has specialist expertise and resources which when used together will enhance the level of protection for our communities.

"If there are major incidents in Fife then our communities will in turn benefit by being able to call on similar extra help and resources from our colleagues in Tayside and Central Scotland."

Mr Campbell stressed there is no risk to Fife, with each potential shared service being planned on an individual basis with the neighbouring area.

Police, fire and safety committee chairman George Kay added that the plans are still not exact, and what services will be shared in the scheme have to be finalised.

He added: "I must stress that the plan is for this new way of working to at least maintain and hopefully improve the standard of fire cover for the whole of Fife. There will be a benefit in terms of giving best value to council tax payers as well as some cost savings."

Despite assurances, however, many still believe the modernisation will see cuts, and perhaps the eventual joining of different area brigades.

Former Kirkcaldy councillor Bert Ritchie, who was a third fire officer for nine years, said: "The whole modernisation programme has really been about cutbacks. This, as far as I'm concerned, is just a money saving exercise.

"They are required to save money, and I understand that, but it's not going to be any sort of improvement.

"Anybody who puts this forward as an improvement is a stranger to the truth. I don't think it's going to serve the people of Fife better in any way at all."