Firefighters gathered in Kirkcaldy to warn the Scottish Government about proposed cuts to their budgets.
More than 100 firefighters from Fife and beyond lobbied ministers ahead of a public question and answer session as part of the summer Cabinet tour.
Cuts to firefighting budgets is a hot topic in Fife, where union officials recently warned the service was “on its knees” and sends out the lowest-staffed fire engines in the UK.
There was little anger directed towards the Scottish Government ministers, who chatted amicably with the crowd outside the Adam Smith Theatre before addressing the firefighters.
The union raised concerns that £4 million has been cut from the revenue budget in Fife and that further reductions will follow.
The dispute comes as Mr MacAskill, the justice secretary, is expected to announce the creation of a single fire service to parliament next month.
Graeme Birtley, chairman of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in Fife, told The Courier his members had gathered to voice their concerns and appeal for measures to ensure “continuity” of service during any transition period.
He also expressed fears over plans for pension changes introduced by the UK Government, which the union say could leave some members £2000 worse off.
“The relationship between devolution, fire brigades and HM Treasury has never been tested,” added FBU Scottish secretary John Duffy.’Want assurances'”No matter what decisions are made, the main thing is the protection of frontline services. We want assurances from the Scottish Government.”
Scott McCabe, FBU secretary for Fife, backed plans to merge brigades, but said the changes must not add strain to budgets. Next year’s proposed budget for Fife will see a £793,000 cut imposed with the expected loss of 20 firefighter posts.
Labour’s Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker, who joined the protest, said she had concerns over the impact the cuts would have on public safety.
“Firefighters in Fife do a fantastic job but recently they have been facing tremendous budget pressures,” she said.
“They have real concerns about the provision of the service and the level of safety they can give to residents in Fife.”
Fife’s chief fire officer Neil McFarlane has repeatedly stressed any changes will be implemented in line with the service’s philosophy of maintaining the safety of the public and firefighters.
Mr MacAskill said an official announcement on the future of the fire service in Scotland would be made in Parliament next month, when MSPs return from the summer recess.
He added: “The whole purpose of fire and police reform is to ensure that we maximise the savings, we get as efficient as we can, so we can keep as much as we can in terms of what’s necessary for the frontline.”
Later, a packed auditorium of around 300 people grilled ministers on a range of topics, including the economy, public services, road maintenance, assisted suicide and wind farms.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hosted the question and answer session in the absence of First Minister Alex Salmond who is on holiday.
The event is part of a programme designed to allow the Government to engage with communities across the country during the summer months.
Ms Sturgeon opened the session by drawing attention to the SNP’s David Torrance winning the seat long viewed as a Labour stronghold at the Scottish Parliament election in May.
Ministers have already been to Fort William and Stranraer and are due to travel to Elgin for the final meeting next month.