The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service wants to consolidate 30 existing fire halls into 23 and build a new one in Waverley West.

The plan would cost $154 million.

Fire chief John Lane says city council needs to approve the 15-year strategic plan to prevent emergency wait times from growing longer.

He says the proposed changes would help ensure response times of four minutes or less for 99 per cent of Winnipeg's properties.

The United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg union says it has concerns, noting officials are looking at consolidating some of the halls in the poorest areas of the city.