Scottish fire service cuts could cost lives, says union | UK News

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is claiming that wide-ranging changes to the fire service in Scotland could cost lives, despite assurances from senior officers that public safety will not be compromised.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is proposing the closure of up to 13 stations, new arrangements for night and weekend cover at others and the permanent withdrawal of 10 appliances nationwide.

Five stations in Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Musselburgh could be shut down or merged.

The 23 options, being published on Wednesday, involve more than 30 fire stations in 14 local authority areas, and the service has warned that more change is likely in years to come.

The FBU says the service is “already on its knees” after a decade of what it calls real-terms cuts.

However, SFRS chief officer Stuart Stevens said: “I absolutely recognise the concerns that people will have because these are significant changes that we’re proposing, but let me be clear – any changes we will make will only be done if it ensures the safety of the community of Scotland.

“This is a really important step for the organisation to make sure that the service is fit for Scotland’s future.”

The service says final decisions will be based on a statistical study of operational risk and demand.

House fires have fallen to an all-time low and over the last two decades, deaths caused by fire have fallen from 89 to 42. The casualty rate has also dropped from 1,951 to 815.

In contrast, firefighters are dealing with more floods, wildfires and rescues.

Deindustrialisation also means some stations are in locations where they are no longer needed.

The options include plans to repair or rebuild some stations, and to transfer staff and appliances to other areas.

Eight part-time stations which have not been fully operational for years could also close for good.

Chief officer Stevens says the SFRS has an £800m backlog for repairs in its buildings, fleet and equipment.

The Scottish government has increased the SFRS capital budget to £47m but he says £60m a year is needed to resolve issues with the fleet and estate.

He argues that the service has to reduce running costs and review the way it operates, placing a greater emphasis on prevention.

“This organisation requires substantial, sustainable change in order for us to continue to deliver for the people of Scotland and prepare Scotland for the future challenges that it faces,” he said.

The proposals involve the permanent removal of 10 appliances which were temporarily withdrawn two years ago, resulting in a reduction of 166 firefighter posts.

The Fire Brigade Union says that is in addition to the loss of 1,200 firefighters’ jobs since the single national service was created in 2013.

It says it also “resoundingly rejects” proposals to change shift patterns at some stations.

This would involve some appliances having full-time crews from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 18:00, and-on call crews outside those hours.

FBU Scottish secretary John McKenzie said: “Our members and the Scottish public have suffered more than enough cuts to the fire service.

“For over a decade real-terms budget cuts have increased risks to public safety, with firefighter numbers slashed and response times increasing as a result.

“The service is already on its knees because of these cuts. That has led to increases in response times and when this time is lost, tragically lives will also be lost.”

The FBU does support some of the changes put forward in the review, but says the service needs more investment to take account of “new and emerging threats.”

Chief officer Stevens said the temporary removal of the 10 appliances in 2023 had had “no detrimental effect on community outcomes.”

On response times, he urged caution over how they should be interpreted and said the service had invested £30m on a new command and control system.

“The point at which a fire starts and the point in which it’s discovered is the most important part in determining the outcome of a fire,” he argued.

“That’s why we believe that investment in prevention is the key to this.”

There is not a community in Scotland that will welcome changes to its fire cover, and the closure or downgrading of stations in places such as Balmossie in Dundee will be opposed by local people and politicians.

On Fetlar, one of the North Isles of Shetland, the fire station hasn’t been in use for years because of a lack of local volunteers who are willing or physically able to meet the service’s fitness requirements for on-call firefighters.

Juliet Bellis, secretary of Fetlar Community Association, says a third of the island’s population of 56 is over the age of 65 and only two are their 20s.

She says the Scottish Ambulance Service allows four local people to act as first responders, using an ambulance on the island and providing medical assistance.

“We’d like something similar for the fire service,” she said.

“We appreciate fire is very different, you could be dealing with very dangerous situations, but it would be helpful if the fire service could come up with some sort of similar model for remote island communities.”

Under the review, Fetlar is designated as a “long-term dormant” station, unused for up to 10 years or more, along with seven others in Crianlarich, Nethy Bridge, Ratagan, the Isle of Muck, Colintraive, Corriecravie on Arran and the Isle of Kerrera.

All are proposed for closure under the options which will now go out for public consultation for 12 weeks.