Scottish fire service in ‘state of crisis’ say Labour

Scottish Labour have said the fire service is “in a state of crisis” as they bring a debate to Parliament to protect it.

Speaking at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, Labour MSP Katy Clarke said the party had brought forward the motion as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was experiencing the “devastating impact of underinvestment”.

She said: “The fire brigade union has been warning for years about the devastating impact of underinvestment in our Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the threats we now face after years of cuts and failure by the Scottish Government to deliver investment.

“In control rooms there has been a 26% reduction in the number of staff. Staff who are vital in answering calls and supporting individuals in emergencies including those who pose a risk to life.”

She said: “Response times have increases on average from six minutes and 51 seconds to eight minutes and 20 seconds and every second counts when waiting on a response from the Scottish Fire and Rescue service.

“The FBU fears that without the investment needed in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service response times could eventually reach 10 minutes.

“Response times to incidents which pose a risk to life have also increased. In 2016 average response time was seven mins 30 seconds as of last year it stood at eight mins and 50 seconds.

“The FBU are calling for increased and sustainable real terms investment. I urge the minister to engage with the firefighter’s union, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and with firefighters across Scotland ahead of this year’s budget process.”

The debate comes after the SFRS launched a public consultation in June on proposals that could see up to 13 fire stations closed.

The proposals cover 14 different local authority areas and involve more than 30 fire stations.

Chief officer Stuart Stevens said in June that the fire service “have a backlog of repairs in our buildings, fleet and equipment that would cost more than £800m to address”.

He said there was a need for sustained investment.

Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety. PA Media

Responding to Ms Clarke’s statement, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown, said the vast majority of reduction of firefighter numbers was because of reducing duplication and layers of management as a result of significant public service reform.

She also said that the issues the fire service is dealing with have changed in recent years with climate change related incidents on the rise.

She said: “Over the last 10 years there has been a 20% reduction in house fires and the number of overall incidents attended by SFRS does continue to fall.

“Climate change is contributing to warmer and drier conditions which increase the likelihood and intensity of wildfires.

“Shifts in weather patterns from last week’s wildfire danger warning to this week’s yellow warning for rain just reinforces the climate challenges that we face.

“This illustrates the need for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to be adaptable to those risks which is why it’s right that the fire service carefully considers how its services are delivered to ensure they are configured in the right way, and how to adapt to the changing risks to remain effective and efficient with firefighters in the right place at the right time.

She said the proposals were “not about saving money” and the SFRS plans to redeploy resources where needed and give adequate support for tackling issues such as RAAC roofs.

Maggie Chapman, Scottish Green MSP acknowledged the fire services increase in climate change related incidents but said “we must not ask them to do more with less”.

She said: “Lets be clear about the reality of the modern fire service.

“Firefighters are no longer dealing only with house fires or car accidents they are dealing with climate change on the frontline more frequent and severe wildfires and devastating floods.

“They are stepping into medical emergencies. They are doing more and they are willing to do even more. But we cannot and we must not ask them to do more with less.”

“It is simply untrue to suggest that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is in crisis”
Chief Officer Stuart Stevens

Following the debate, Chief Officer Stuart Stevens said: “It is simply untrue to suggest that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is in crisis.

“We have managed significant change since the inception of the national service in 2013, and have been clear on the need for sustained investment as we face an insurmountable capital backlog of more than £800 million.

“Our highly skilled, professional and dedicated staff work tirelessly every day to keep people safe from harm, and we always maintain strategic cover to respond to every type of emergency.”

He said prevention is now at the “core” of the service and house fires are at all all-time low.

He added: “Failure to change means we will never evolve into a service fit for Scotland’s future.”