Fire stations could shut, admits Highland brigade

THE region’s fire service is likely to be completely overhauled to address concerns over firefighter training, its most senior officer has admitted.

Chief fire officer Trevor Johnson told The Inverness Courier that change was needed to confront the "enormous" difficulties and admitted he could not rule out station closures if the risks faced by firefighters cannot be addressed.

"Nothing is off the table," he said.

The problems facing Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service centre on the quality of training for firefighters, particularly retained crews, which has left the service vulnerable to legal action.

It is claimed that fewer than 10 per cent of the service’s 1400 employees are properly trained.

Scottish community safety minister Roseanna Cunningham has expressed concern and Steven Torrie, head of the government’s fire and rescue advisory unit, has now established a high-ranking team to investigate.

Grampian Fire and Rescue Service’s chief fire officer David Dalziel, David Millar, director of corporate services for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, and Alasdair Hay, of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Advisory Unit, are visiting stations to question firefighters.

They will advise Mr Johnson in the preparation of an action plan to be presented to next month’s meeting of the region’s fire board.

Mr Johnson acknowledged change was needed now, despite moves towards a single fire and rescue service for the country, which is likely to happen in 2013.

"It is evident that the service is logistically and financially unable to effectively support the current structure of the service and as such, it is highly likely that I may have to recommend a different model to the board that is sustainable in the context of the enormous challenges that confront us," he said.

"Clearly between now and January, the focus is directed to defining an affordable and sustainable way forward, which balances community risk and firefighter safety."

In the meantime, an extra £749,000 has been committed to spend on training at the expense of capital build spending, which has been suspended. "That is just initial training," Mr Johnson continued. "We are looking at how many more resources are required."

Several years ago, the number of retained stations in the Highlands and Islands tripled to 95 but investment in training failed to keep pace. This has led to "the level of operational competence" potentially falling significantly below the level provided by retained staff across the rest of Scotland, according to Mr Torrie.

Fire Brigades Union chairman for the Highlands and Islands, Calum MacNeill, said its main concern was the safety of firefighters and hoped recommendations to the board would lead to improvements.