The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has issued an extreme wildfire warning for the whole of Scotland for Friday, 26 September. The SFRS is facing many challenges, not least of all, staffing and funding the services it provides to keep us all safe.

Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant has revealed that only 10 out of 125 on-call fire stations in Argyll and Bute, Highland, Moray, and the Islands are currently fully staffed—less than 10%—following a series of Parliamentary questions she lodged.

Rhoda Grant said:

The Labour MSP laid the blame firmly at the door of the SNP Scottish Government saying that they have been responsible for cuts to the SFRS resulting in the loss of over 1,200 fire fighters since 2007, and now with 29% of posts being vacant.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in Scotland state that since 2013, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service resource budget has been cut in real terms by £58 million.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has published 23 proposals to downgrade fire cover at a number of specific stations, or close them entirely. SFRS are proposing to close eight fire stations that have been non-operational for a number of years. These stations are staffed by on call firefighters, employed as retained or on the volunteer duty system. None of these are in Orkney, but there is one in Fetlar, Shetland.

FBU regional secretary for Scotland John McKenzie described the service as “already on its knees”. He said:

“This is unacceptable and any proposals to further compromise our service and public safety must be rejected.

“This spring and summer have seen some of the biggest wildfires in Scotland’s history; burning more than 11,800 hectares of moorland and woodland near Carrbridge and Dava according to the Moorland Trust.  

“When a house fire broke out in Ballater in late June, it took almost an hour for the first appliance to arrive, as all nearby appliances were deployed to the wildfires in Morrayshire.  “

Emma Roddick, Highlands and Islands SNP MSP, led a debate in the Scottish Parliament, 18 September, on Wildfires.

The Orkney News contacted Emma Roddick after the debate and the cuts of £58million claimed by the FBU. She said:

“The reason I held this debate is that I have already been in discussions with the Scottish Government on an number of the points I raised around preventing and reacting to wildfires, and anyone who watched the debate will have seen my interactions with the Minister, which have continued in meeting rooms since, and how willing I am to press him on the need for more action.”

On the question of funding for the SFRS Emma Roddick said:

“The overall settlement has increased year on year since 2017-18. “

You can watch the debate on Wildfires here:

Click on this link for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Wildfires.

Wildfires pose a serious threat to Scotland’s landscapes, wildlife, and communities. We can all play a part in preventing them. By following a few simple guidelines, we can protect the places we love and keep ourselves safe.

• Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code’s advice and never start a fire when a wildfire danger assessment is in place and during prolonged dry periods in areas such as forests, woods, farmland or peaty ground.
• Don’t have BBQs, on any flammable surface during very dry and prolonged weather. Instead have them within safe designated BBQ areas.
• Don’t have campfires or any outdoor fire when a wildfire danger assessment is in place or during prolonged dry periods.
• Always fully extinguish cigarettes and dispose of them responsibly.
• Don’t leave litter, take it home with you and leave no trace. Glass in direct sunlight can cause a fire. Ensure none is lying around. 
• Where possible use a stove rather than an open fire.  
• If you do light a fire, keep it small, controlled and supervised
• Make sure the fire has been fully extinguished and remove all traces of an open fire before you leave the area. 

Fiona Grahame

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