Lives in the Highlands will be lost as a result of fire service cost-cutting, a former firefighter has warned.
Alarm bells are ringing over an existing dearth of firefighters and concern among north politicians that an ongoing review could mean even fewer in Inverness.
Highland councillors yesterday warned that a proposed uniformity of shift systems across Scotland was “risky centralisation”.
Calling for urgent talks with Highland fire chiefs, concerned councillors are drafting an emergency motion to this month’s full council meeting. They hope council chiefs will write to the Scottish Government to register their fears.
Traditional local fire boards were recently scrapped, leaving councillors little direct input into the running of the service.
Labour councillor Fraser Parr, a firefighter for many years, drew parallels with police station closures across the north.
He said the 19-strong “watch” crew in his day had slipped to 17 and that there was now a strong possibility the review could see it plunging to as few as 12.
“Before the single (Scotland-wide) service was established,” councillor Parr said, “the chief officer Alasdair Hay gave me a personal assurance that we would be beneficiaries of any changes that happened because we were so stretched. That’s not happening.
“A five-duty (shift) system they’re talking about introducing as part of the review had previously been explicitly ruled out in an area where you’ve only got one whole-time station.”
A move to a five-watch crewing system from next April has been agreed between the service and the union.
Fellow city councillor, Liberal Democrat Carolyn Caddick, said: “Inverness is currently 11 short of the complement of 80 full-time firefighters. The review will reduce numbers even further.”
When city fire crews respond to calls further afield retained colleagues step in if cover is needed.
Mr Parr said that presents a “nightmare” scenario because retained crews are not trained to the same degree.
Mrs Caddick blamed “SNP centralisation” for not taking Highland’s unique geographical character into consideration.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “The service has worked closely with the union to achieve the right level of staffing to meet the needs of a modern service.
“It’s currently addressing staffing numbers by means of a recruitment campaign with over 100 full-time firefighters expected to be commencing employment in January, as well as a campaign to recruit retained firefighters. Crewing arrangements are, of course, a matter for the service.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Councillor Parr’s comments are not only irresponsible – but amount to scaremongering.
“They fail to reflect how the modern Fire and Rescue Service has moved on, harnessing more efficient working practices to ensure our communities are better protected at times of emergency.
“This move aligns Inverness with similar fire stations across the nation which have two appliances and a dedicated aerial rescue vehicle as well as water rescue capability.
“There will be no change to service delivery or to the current capabilities at Inverness.
“It also means the station will automatically benefit from five extra posts to allow for greater staffing flexibility. This ensures that service delivery is unaffected by any unforeseen or unplanned issues such as short term sickness.
“In fact, Inverness will have surplus hours to cover not only sickness but allow firefighters to carry out our ongoing efforts to keep our communities safe by preventing risk from arising in the first place.
“The previous four-watch system introduced over 35 years ago is highly inefficient and no longer fit for purpose.
“Furthermore, Councillor Parr’s comments towards our retained firefighters do not reflect the skills and experience of those brave men and women who stand on the frontline to protect their communities.
“We are always willing to meet with local and national representatives to discuss the ongoing work of our Service and how the protection of our communities sits at the very heart of all our efforts.”
