Lancashire Fire Brigade and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have signed up to BT's Airwave network, but fire fighters say they will not use the sparking digital radio handsets when fighting fires or in explosive situations.

The Lancashire brigade plans to roll out the radios to its control rooms and fire engines, going live with the system in February 2002. But it admitted that it would not use Tetra handsets when fighting fires, for fear that its unprotected sparks could endanger members of the crew.

Fire fighters in Holland have also discovered that Tetra handsets are difficult to operate when wearing safety gloves.

Divisional officer David Thompson said the brigade would continue to use its UHF radios in dangerous situations, and questioned why manufacturers had been unable to make safer handsets. "Intrinsically safe Tetra radios would be desirable, because you would only have to support one radio system," he said.

He believed that, although a niche market, if the needs of emergency services around Europe were considered, a safe but financially viable handset could be developed and produced.

The MoD extended its Tetra contract with BT last week to supply new radios to the Defence Communication Services Agency, including divisions such as bomb disposal teams, nuclear accident response, the Marines, the Navy and the RAF. The contract follows last month's deal to replace the MoD's outdated field radios.

But questions over the system's safety and its ease of use remain unanswered. Tests by Lancashire Police raised concerns about interference with other electronic equipment, a concern also held by the ambulance service.

Motorola confirmed that its Tetra radio handsets were not safe as defined in the Cenelec standard, but said they complied with the Factory Mutual standard.

A spokeswoman said the UK Fire Brigade did not stipulate Cenelec to its brigades but "only" recommended it. BT was unavailable for comment.