Orkney Islands Council has thrown its weight behind retaining the north’s fire control room.
The office in Seafield Road, Inverness, is one of four being considered for closure as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
The other three are in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service plans to sell five of its eight control centres. Only Johnstone in Renfrewshire which handles around half of all calls in Scotland will remain open for certain.
Orkney Islands Council believes the closure of Inverness will mean the loss of local knowledge, regarded by many as vital in saving lives.
Council leaders point to the huge area of the Highlands and islands, local dialect, Gaelic and the duplication of names.
Steven Heddle, the council leader, and police and fire sub-committee chairman Andrew Drever have written to SFRS board chairman Pat Watters.
Mr Heddle described the experience and knowledge held by the Inverness staff as “immense”.
“These operators have a vast understanding of the Highlands and islands, an area often described as the size of Belgium,” he said.
“It’s an area of great diversity in terms of geography, dialect, the Gaelic language and the duplication of place names throughout Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles and Highlands.
“The knowledge and expertise of the control room staff ensures that the response to fires and other emergencies across the region is second to none.”
Mr Drever added: “Getting the right resources to the right place at the right time gives the best chance of saving lives.
“This is why it is crucial that the control room and this expert knowledge is retained in Inverness.”
Their intervention came as Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander urged Highlands and islands residents to “stand up to the Scottish Government” by signing his e-petition to save the fire control room. “The Scottish Government’s drive to concentrate services in the central belt will be hugely damaging for the Highlands,” said Mr Alexander.