A Harrow MP has welcomed the “fantastic news” that Stanmore fire station is to receive a second fire engine.

Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, has reacted positively to the news that was announced on Friday.

Mr Blackman said: “The addition of an extra fire engine at Stanmore is fantastic news for Harrow.

“As part of a London wide overhaul the London Fire Brigade aims to reach emergencies within six minutes.

“Harrow can be sure that front-line services are being protected in this tough economic climate.”

On Friday the commissioner of the London Fire Brigade published proposals for the Draft Fifth London Safety Plan which outlines how he plans to make £28.8 million of savings in the next two years.

The proposals will see 12 of the capital’s fire stations close but none of those earmarked for closure are in Harrow, and Stanmore's fire station is to receive a second fire engine.

London Fire Brigade believes that despite the closures it will be able to maintain its response times – it aims to get the first fire engine to an emergency within six minutes.

The reason for this is that in the past ten years the number of fires in the capital has halved, the total number of house fires has fallen by a third and the number of incidents the brigade is called to has dropped by a third.