McArthur highlights concerns about possible fire service cuts  

Orkney’s MSP, Liam McArthur today spoke in a debate on community safety, raising concerns over proposals under review by the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service to close stations across Scotland and reduce firefighter numbers. 

Mr McArthur emphasised the distinct challenges faced by the service in rural and island communities, not least in maintaining adequate staffing levels for retained crews. 

Speaking after the debate, Mr McArthur said:

“Firefighters do heroic work in incredibly challenging circumstances and are central to the safety of our communities. Increasingly, however, we are seeing inadequate staffing, training and resources pushing up response times and increasing risk.

“In rural and island areas like Orkney, community resilience is particularly reliant on retained stations. For some time, however, these stations have faced challenges in recruitment and retention, often leading to crews being taken ‘off the run’ 

“With further cuts now proposed by SFRS, the public will be understandably concerned about the impact on response times and capacity, including here in Orkney.

“Ministers and SFRS must rethink these plans. If we want firefighters to be able to continue protecting our communities, crews must be adequately trained, staffed and resourced.”

Mr McArthur also took the opportunity to highlight concerns over access to fire training in Orkney for merchant seafarers. With greater use of simulators at the training facilities at Kirkwall airport, the MCA has been unwilling to sanction courses run by Orkney College. Discussions are ongoing with MCA and HIAL to try to resolve the issue, with MCA representatives in Orkney later this month. 

Commenting, Mr McArthur said:

“Having campaigned for many years to see fire training facilities at Kirkwall Airport upgraded, I have seen the huge benefits in providing locally based training for fire crews as well as workers in other sectors who require such training.

“It is a concern therefore that merchant seafarers can’t currently access the training locally that they need. Hopefully the discussions underway with MCA and HIAL can resolve the situation to avoid islanders having to travel to the mainland, with all the cost, time and inconvenience that involves”.