Firefighters warn of risk to public safety amidst cuts

Low morale, underinvestment and budget cuts are causing a fire service in 'crisis'.

That's according to a new report from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), which warns of the impact of underfunding and working conditions on firefighters’ ability to respond effectively to serious and life-threatening incidents.

The report titled Firestorm assessed the challenges faced by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

It identified serious concerns with the situation in the fire service, with firefighters raising issues around response times, poor training, poor equipment and health concerns about fire contaminants.

Concerns about contaminants

One firefighter told the union that the SFRS had done “almost nothing” to combat the physical effects they experience as a result of fires.

The firefighter said: “The SFRS has done almost nothing (on contaminants) apart from provide wipes on appliances – that’s it.

“Patting yourself down with wipes after being exposed to a fire for hours just doesn’t cut it.”

Additionally, the report also pointed to the condition of buildings in the SFRS estate, with 14 having issues with crumbly reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

The report claims there has been “some” investment in equipment but compared with other parts of the UK, it says in Scotland this has been slow and partial.

One firefighter who was interviewed as part of the report said there was no personal issue respirators or adequate welfare facilities for larger incidents at their station.

Additionally, firefighters felt the training provided was inconsistent and inadequate, with trainees coming into fire stations (where they work on shifts known as watches) without having experience of “hot fire” training, which replicates the heat, smoke logging and conditions experienced in a variety of different fire settings.

Removed fire engines

The FBU is currently consulting members over taking strike action in opposition to the cuts the union said have been imposed by the Scottish Government.

A projected, five-year, flat cash budget, in place until 2027, has already removed 10 whole-time fire engines and 150 retained appliances are regularly unavailable due to significant recruitment and retention issues, the union said.

The SFRS announced that it will need to save a minimum of £14 million next year which could result in the loss of a further 339 firefighters and 18 fire engines, with more to come.

Scotland has lost 1,200 frontline firefighters since 2012, the union has previously claimed.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Firefighters play a vital role in protecting communities and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has continued to deliver the high standard of services required to keep Scotland safe.

“Despite difficult financial circumstances due to UK Government austerity, we are providing SFRS with more than £368 million this year, an increase of £14.4 million on 2022-23.

“Whilst allocation of resources, along with recruitment and retention of firefighters, is an operational matter for SFRS, we are maintaining frontline services, with a higher number of firefighters in Scotland than other parts of the UK. Ministers will continue engaging with the FBU to discuss their concerns.”

Scottish Conservative deputy justice spokesperson Sharon Dowey MSP said: “Brave and hardworking firefighters are doing their job with one hand tied behind their back and are beyond breaking point.

“SNP ministers must finally step up and deliver the funding our fire service needs, before the catastrophic consequences of not doing so are keenly felt.”

The SFRS has been contacted for comment.