Fire service bosses have bowed to pressure and decided to spare two night-time fire engines that had previously faced the axe.
However, the West Midlands Fire Service still plans to cut night cover across the conurbation by 21 per cent.
The service bowed to vociferous public pressure and has allowed Coventry's Foleshill Station and West Bromwich Station to maintain two manned engines between midnight and 8am.
However, the Fire Brigades Union last night said it was "nothing like enough" and the WMFS admitted that the two reprieved engines would be subject to ongoing review.
The controversial plans are contained in the service's new risk management action plan, which proposed cutting the current 62 engines on call at night to 47 - a cut of 25 per cent.
Critics have slammed the service, claiming the cut would endanger lives because fires claim more lives at night when people are asleep.
The action plan, which has been out for public consultation, concludes: "Our analysis, prior to the commencement of the consultation, showed that between midnight and 8am, we require 47 engines: a reduction of 15 from 62.
"However, following consultation, and while we carry out further detailed research to ratify our proposal, we will, for the time being, increase the number from 47 to 49."
The final draft of the plan adds: "These measures are temporary, until detailed further analysis is undertaken and a subsequent decision is made by the authority."
Tony Nutting, West Midlands spokesman for the FBU said: "This reprieve for two engines is nothing like enough.
"They have given in to public-pressure in Foleshill and West Brom but it just shows you how wrong their calculations were in the first place if they can reinstate these two engines."
