With one of Epsom's two fire engines under threat, reporter Alice Foster, visited the station on Friday to understand some of the challenges they face.

"The mask rasped loudly when I breathed in and the firefighter overalls felt heavy.

Kneeling down I grasped the body under the arms and stood up slowly to drag it backwards.

Then the lights switched on, and the firemen told me to put down the 12-year-old child sized dummy used for training.

Crew manager Chris Wasson, firefighter Tom Howe and firefighter Adam Stollery were showing me on Friday how to use breathing apparatus.

We were using equipment from one of two fire engines stationed at Epsom fire station, which faces removal to Burgh Heath under current proposals.

Just the day before the three men were part of crews which reached a house fire in Royal Drive, Epsom, within five minutes and put out the blaze in the smoke-filled property before it burnt down.

Mr Stollery said when he stood on the stairs Mr Wasson could not see the bottom of his boots because the smoke was so thick.

He said: "You kind of use your senses to try and work if you can hear the fire crackling and work out where it is hotter.

"The time goes really quickly. You are more focused on the job than time."

The clothes they wear are loosely fitted to reduce sweat caused by the heat near fire.

I sat in the fire engine and put on the breathing apparatus, which is fitted to the back of the seat. Then pulled a lever to release it and climbed out.

Next I put on the fullface mask, struggling to breathe at first, and crouched on the floor as if there was smoke filling the room above.

We went through search procedures waving our arms and reaching out for walls until we reached the dummy.

Afterwards I was being shown how to use hydraulic cutters, which can cut the roof off cars which have been involved in a smash, when suddenly the station bell rang.

It was 15.43 and firefighters were needed in Bookham. The firemen rushed to put on gear, get into a fire engine and leave the station with the siren and lights going.

About 20 minutes later as I was leaving, the fire engine arrived back at the station, ready to respond, day or night, whenever the next fire was reported."