Fears that Sutherland fire stations may be closed 'through back door'
SCOTTISH Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has been accused of “losing the plot” over a plan to cut costs by removing air compressors from stations in the north, including Sutherland.
The compressors are used to recharge air cylinders which form part of the breathing apparatus worn by firefighters when battling enclosed fires.
SFRS is considering taking away compressors from nine of Sutherland’s 11 fire stations, retaining the equipment only at Dornoch and Kinlochbervie, it has been claimed.
The proposal would mean that fire units returning to their stations with empty air cylinders would then have to travel to Dornoch or Kinlochbervie or possibly Thurso to recharge them.
One idea being mooted is that a van containing a compressor could travel around the various stations.
Among those fighting the move is Independent North, West and Central Sutherland councillor Hugh Morrison, a former retained firefighter with more than 30 years’ experience.
He said: “SFRS just seem to have lost the plot. There is no common sense to this plan and the service is not going to save money by getting rid of compressors.”
Public finance watchdog Audit Scotland indicated two months ago that SFRS was facing a “significant potential funding gap”.
The organisation warned that potential future reductions in funding could mean a budget gap of £42.7 million by 2019/2020 and called for a long-term financial strategy to be put in place.
SFRS chief officer Alastair Hay has said he is looking at “all options” to save money. It is feared cuts could mean fewer firefighters and the closure of local stations.
Sutherland firefighters were told by an Inverness-based senior manager at a district meeting in Tongue several weeks ago about the compressor plan.
One said: “We were just told out of the blue. When the boys came out of the meeting, they were pretty shaken and annoyed.”
A list of the stations involved has been provided to the Northern Times. Out of 85 stations reviewed, only 22 are set to retain their compressors.
Around the size of a large chest freezer and powered by three phase electricity, compressors suck in clean air and compress it down, enabling air cylinders to be filled with high quality air.
Eight air cylinders are carried on every fire appliance. They form part of a self-contained breathing apparatus set (SCBA) and are used when firefighters are required to enter burning buildings or other hostile environments.
One of a unit’s first jobs on returning to their stations, following a call-out, is to refill used air cylinders, ready for the next incident. Units are not allowed to attend call-outs without full air cylinders.
A firefighter said: “The minute we get back, we refill our air cylinders but if this plan goes ahead, we’ll have to travel to Dornoch or Kinlochbervie to replenish our bottles. If our cylinders are empty, then we’re off the runs. It’s madness.
“There is a suggestion that a van with a mobile compressor might travel round all the stations but that hasn’t been thought through and there is no plan in place as to how that might work.
“We don’t think the service will save money – a mechanic visits fire stations on a rotational basis and maintains the compressors at the same time as the appliance, so where is the saving going to come from?”
“We think this is the most serious threat to the way we work in years. While it might be viable in an urban area where fire stations are closer together, it is not going to work in a rural area like Sutherland because of the distance most units would have to travel to the nearest station which has a compressor. It is simply too far.”
Firefighters have also voiced fears that the plan could be a precursor to closing down rural stations.
Councillor Hugh Morrison told the Northern Times yesterday: “I just think it is a ludicrous move to take compressors away from fire stations.
“Firefighters might have to travel up to three-quarter-of-an-hour to reach the nearest station with a compressor. They will have to take the appliance to do this which takes it away from the area it should be covering. The crews are stretched enough without this extra burden.
“This is a backwards step and how the service think they can save money by it is beyond me.”
Councillor Morrison is working with a small sub-group to address the compressor issues and other concerns with fire service managers.
Another member of the sub-group is Landward Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss, also an Independent.
He told the Northern Times that a “big injection of common sense” was required. Councillors had sent a letter to the fire service requesting clarification regarding the compressor proposal but the response received had not made the situation any clearer.
Councillor Reiss said: “This proposal appears to be an inefficient way of doing things. The fire service says it is to try and save money but our concern is that it will mean firefighters spending even more time travelling.”
He said councillors were also concerned about other matters including the restrictive ruling that a minimum of four firefighters had to respond to a call-out to enable a unit to leave its station.
SFRS’s senior officer in the Highlands, Scott Hay, said: “The service is currently reviewing its network of breathing apparatus (BA) compressors to ensure effective service delivery through the most appropriate and optimum geographical locations.
“This is also informed through the analysis of operational activity and geographical need, therefore supporting all operational requirements and servicing all community fire stations across Highland.
“The BA compressor programme contains all of these components and will ensure we continue to support our community-based firefighters and, in turn, best protect the communities of Highland.”
