The
Auxiliary
Fire Service
On Wednesday 8th October, 2003,
Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and
Lochaber, lead a debate in Parliament on the
Auxiliary Fire Service in the Highlands.
The
Auxiliary Fire Service is unique to the Highlands and
Islands. Through it, over 400 trained local volunteers
provide front line emergency cover in remote areas that
cannot always be reached quickly enough by the retained
Fire Service.
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As well as providing this front line
cover, the Auxiliary Fire service also performs specialist
roles, including the control of forest fires and grouse moor
fires.
A recent report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate
of Fire Services has made recommendations that could see
closure of up to 32 of the 93 Auxiliary Fire Service Stations,
primarily on the grounds that they are not properly equipped
with breathing apparatus, and it would not be cost
effective
to do so.
The 32 Auxiliary Fire Stations
under threat are at Achfarry, Ardgour, Balintore, Berneray,
Boat of Garten, Carrbridge, Cromarty, Eigg, Eriskay, Evie,
Glenborrodale, Glendale, Glenuig, Hamnavoe, Knoydart,
Kyleakin, Lybster, Minginish, Mossbank, Muck, Nethy Bridge,
Newtonmore, Papa Stour, Portmahomack, Ratagan, Shieldaig,
Sleat, Spean Bridge, Strathconnon, Strathpeffer, Struan and
Waternish.
Fergus Ewing and his motion’s co-sponsors
are asking those involved in making the final decisions on
closure to consider all the
implications of closures. Have your say via this
forum, which MSPs will be monitoring before during and after the
parliamentary debate.
Fergus
Ewing's Motion
That the Parliament notes that auxiliary
fire units play a vital role in many rural communities in
fighting fires and do so in conjunction with the retained fire
brigades; notes with concern that, following a report from Her
Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire Services (HMI), 32 auxiliary
units face possible closure; further notes that the new
approach of integrated risk assessment should permit the
preservation of as many as possible of these auxiliary units;
considers that the Scottish Executive should explicitly
endorse the need for such units and acknowledge the essential
role that they play in protecting human life and property;
believes that, if the recommendations of the HMI report are
not carefully considered and auxiliary units are forced to
close because of the proposed introduction of compulsory
access to breathing apparatus within a short timescale, then
human life and property may be placed at risk; believes that
all involved, including Highland Council, the Firemaster, HMI
and the Health and Safety Executive, should continue to
discuss the implications of the HMI report in the context
of integrated risk assessment and find an outcome that
prevents the closure of so many of the auxiliary
units.
Supported
by: Stewart Stevenson, Brian Adam, Jim Mather, Mr
Stewart Maxwell, Richard Lochhead, Mrs Margaret Ewing, Mr Rob
Gibson, Eleanor Scott, Alex Neil, Michael Matheson, John
Swinburne, Shona Robison, Sandra White, Roseanna Cunningham,
Bruce McFee, Mary Scanlon (List as of 1st October,
2003)
Useful links
Her
Majesty's Fire Inspectorate Report
Highlands and Islands Fire
Brigade
Transcript of Parliamentary Debate
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