Minister challenged over plans to ‘temporarily withdraw’ fire appliances

The Scottish Government has been challenged to provide emergency funding for the fire service, as it prepares to withdraw some of its vehicles on a temporary basis.

Labour’s Katy Clark said at a time when crews in Scotland were battling wildfires, the service should be looking to “build resilience” rather than cut appliance numbers.

Community safety minister Siobhian Brown, however, said the move – which will impact 10 of the  635 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) appliances – was only a “modest reduction”.

She added that a “robust assessment of the risks” had been carried out, as she said crewing changes made as a result of the reduction in appliance numbers would mean more vehicles would be available for use.

The minister stressed: “SFRS currently has in the region of 635 operational fire appliances across Scotland, this modest reduction will allow SFRS to ensure that full crews are available so more of the remaining 625 operational appliances are always available for deployment.”

But Ms Clark said: “Surely the current wildfires show we need to build resilience into our fire service, not cut it.”

The West of Scotland MSP demanded the Scottish Government “commit to an emergency funding package for the fire service”.

Conservative MSP Jamie Greene called on Ms Brown to “give a categorical assurance that no-one will be put at harm or risk as a result of these cuts to services”.

Meanwhile SNP MSP Bob Doris, who represents Maryhill and Springburn in Glasgow, also voiced concerns.

He told the minister: “High rises in my constituency require two fire appliances to attend before any blaze is tackled, yet Maryhill is proposed to go to a single appliance station.

“Local firefighters I met with are concerned this could lead to delay in tackling such fires. I share those concerns.”

Complaining of a “lack of consultation” he called for the process to be suspended and a fresh safety review conducted.

However, Ms Brown said: “There should be no increased risk to the public or to firefighters.”

The community safety minister added: “SFRS ha a predetermined response to high-rise flat fires and that response is already provided from multiple fire stations and that will not change.

“Any large scale incident will be quickly responded to with the necessary resources, including specialist, high-reaching appliances from the local area and beyond.”

Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie, the MSP for North East Fife, said that the minister had failed to understand the “extent of the cuts that are being imposed”, adding that Fife was “losing four appliances in different towns”.

With the reduction in appliances due to happen in September, Ms Brown told MSPs: “The number and location of fire appliances needed to keep communities safe is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“I have been assured that in reaching the decision to temporarily withdraw 10 of their 635 operational appliances from service, the SFRS has thoroughly assessed the impact.”