Firefighters are accusing the Fire Service of exaggerating the cost of false alarms.

The cost to tax-payers of false call-outs was reportedly up to 25 million dollars in the past financial year.

The Auckland Firefighters Union says these claims are paving the way to reduce the response to central city buildings with fire protection systems.

President Jeff McCulloch says the only additional cost for attending a fire is the diesel used by the fire trucks. He says the fire fighters are there all the time anyway and are being paid.

Mr McCulloch says it does not matter whether they are having tea, a sleep or doing a drill - they are still there. He says the fact they go out to a call is not a cost.

Mr McCulloch says the Fire Service has already tried the cut-backs, but had to delay them a few times.