Controversial cost-cutting plans that ask firefighters to work 24-hour shifts have been approved.
Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority agreed to implement the shift system despite opposition from the Fire Brigades' Union.
The authority said some of its less busy stations could with 14 firefighters as a opposed to the 28 employed at the moment.
Managers said this would save �400,000 a year at each station.
Under the system, called Day Crewing Plus, firefighters would work 12 hours, followed by another 12-hour "standby" shift where they would sleep at the stations in purpose-built accommodation, ready to answer emergency calls.
The FBU opposed the move because it does not comply with nationally-agreed terms of service and would lead to job losses.
It argued fire crews would be stretched by having half the firefighters doing twice the work.
But Councillor Peter Roffey, chairman of the fire authority, said on Wednesday that savings had to be made given future cuts to Government grants.
He said the system already worked well in other areas. "This is a way to do more with less," he said.
Volunteers who wanted to work the new shift would be paid a 30 per cent premium on their salary.
Coun Roffey said: "I would sooner make the savings this way and ensure we can afford to keep our 30 fire engines running than have to take some of them off the road further down the line.
"We are not asking firefighters to become slaves. We will not force anyone to do this. "
Leicestershire FBU spokesman Tom Neal said: "This is a return to Victorian times."
He said the FBU would urge members not to volunteer.
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