Brave firefighters caught up in Scotland’s devastating winter floods have been praised for standing by their duties while facing their own personal loss.
Hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses were wrecked when Storm Frank battered Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire just before New Year.
The swollen River Dee burst its banks suddenly on December 30 and sent several feet of water tearing through the area.
The unexpected surge swept away static caravans and cars alike, while families found themselves trapped in their homes as water poured in through letterboxes and up through the floor.
The village of Ballater was one of the worst affected areas – with the riverside fire station being swallowed up by the water and battered with fast moving debris that ripped a hole in the iconic red garage door.
But throughout the chaos, and with seven of the crew knowing their own homes had been caught up in the disaster, they remained dedicated to risking their own lives for others.
Their heroics have now been honoured at a special awards ceremony held in Aberdeen on Monday night.
Ballater Fire Station and its dedicated personnel received a Chief Officer Commendation award for their part in the Deeside drama.
Station Manager Colin Westwood said: “It gives me a great sense of pride that the personnel from Ballater are being recognised for their actions during Storm Frank.
“At the height of the flooding many of the local firefighter’s homes and properties were severely affected however the crews continued to undertake their rescue operations with little or no regard for their own loss with their sole and unselfish focus being on responding and supporting their community.
“The whole station are a credit to both their community and the Scottish Fire and Rescue service and I am absolutely delighted for them all.”
Two firefighters from North Anderson Drive in Aberdeen were also commended for their involvement in the evacuation of a sheltered care home in Aberdeen’s Bridge of Dee area.Manager Dennis Chalmers and firefighter Christopher McAllister waded through rising flood waters to rescue three elderly people and carry them to safety just hours after the floodwaters tore through Ballater further upstream.
North Anderson Drive station manager, Charlie Watt, described the pair’s actions during Storm Frank as “professional and selfless”
He said: “I am delighted and extremely proud that Dennis and Chris are being recognised by the Service for their actions at this incident under extremely challenging conditions.
“They are both valuable members at North Anderson Drive fire station and comes as no great surprise to me of their professional and selfless actions on that evening. They are a credit to their station and their colleagues within Aberdeen City and also the wider Aberdeenshire area.”
Another 11 SFRS personnel were honoured with long service and good conduct awards and 30 year certificates during the awards ceremony.
Scotland’s chief fire officer, Alasdair Hay, said the awards were a great way to shed light on the fantastic work of Scottish firefighters.
He said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service response to Storm Frank – which affected all parts of the country – truly exemplified our commitment to providing a first class emergency service to our communities.
“Our firefighters are, quite rightly, praised for their abilities at fighting fires but the efforts of the Ballater crews and those from North Anderson Drive show that our capabilities extend far beyond that.
“The unprecedented conditions the country suffered during the winter period threw up a wide variety of different and unique challenges for our firefighters to contend with. What followed was a truly national response, as we focused our best resources from around Scotland to the worst hit areas.
“It gives me great pleasure and pride to formally highlight some of the firefighters who demonstrated that service-wide determination to do what was best for the people of Scotland.”
