Tag: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Red Plaque unveiled for Firefighter Barry Martin

On Saturday (27 January), memorial plaques were unveiled to commemorate and celebrate the life of firefighter Barry Martin, one year on from his death in the line of duty.

A Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Red Plaque was unveiled alongside a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Memorial Plaque at McDonald Road Fire Station on Saturday at a private ceremony attended by members of Barry’s family, fire service colleagues and their families, along with representatives from the Fire Brigades Union and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The Red Plaque project is funded by the Firefighters 100 Lottery and creates memorials for firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty across the UK.

Shelley Martin, wife of Barry Martin, said: “Barry Martin was, and will always remain, the heart and soul of our family. There is nothing right about our profound loss, but what we must do, is do right with what we are forced to live with. That is, living a life without his physically here to have and to hold.

“Therefore, what is right, is to celebrate our extraordinary Barry, who shines through his beautiful sons Oliver and Daniel, and forever blazes with a ferocious love in our hearts. We thank everyone who helped us to make this day, about Our Barry.”

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary said: “As we mark one year since he lost his life in the line of duty, Barry Martin and his loved ones will be in the thoughts of firefighters everywhere.

“The plaques unveiled in his memory will provide a place of reflection and remembrance for all who knew him, and for future generations of firefighters to pay their respects. 

“The Fire Brigades Union honours Barry’s dedication and bravery. We commemorate his life and work with pride, and we will ensure he is remembered always.”

Seona Hart, Fire Brigades Union Scotland treasurer said: “The Red Plaques play an important role for the loved ones of the firefighters they remember, as well as sharing their stories with the community.

“As we unveil the FBU Red Plaque at McDonald Road Fire Station, we are not only gathered to remember Barry, but also to celebrate him as husband, father, son, comrade, brother and friend.”

Stay off the ice to save your life says Water Safety Scotland

Stay off the ice to save your life, that’s the message from Water Safety Scotland (WSS) ahead of the colder months.

The message comes as temperatures in the region have plummeted in recent days, meaning some bodies of water like lochs have frozen over. While frozen waters can provide youngsters a tempting place to play, and walkers with a picturesque view, they can be deadly.

The warning comes after high profile tragedy in Birmingham in 2022 when four young boys died after walking on a lake and falling into icy waters.

WSS has a wealth of free water safety resources on its website, which can be accessed by the public, schools and businesses. These include downloadable posters, leaflets and social media assets. Schools and colleges are encouraged to explore and use the ice-safety workshop, suitable for people of all ages. 

Carlene McAvoy, from WSS, said: “The great outdoors is beautiful in winter, but we want to ensure people enjoy it in a safe and informed way by knowing about the dangers of ice.

“Frozen water can be tempting to walk on, but there is just no way of knowing whether it will hold your weight or how deep the water is beneath.

“We urge people to keep themselves and their children away from frozen water, and if dog-walking, to always keep your pet on a lead. Tragically, many past incidents have involved attempted rescues of another person or dog in trouble on frozen water.”

This is the key advice from WSS:

  • Most importantly, stay off the ice. Never be tempted to venture onto ice – you have no way of knowing how thick it is and how cold and deep the water beneath is. The water beneath could also be fast-flowing. Don’t ever risk it.
  • Keep a safe distance from the edge. Fallen leaves or snow could obscure the water’s true boundary.
  • Check for safety signage. This can help inform you of hazards in that area you may not be aware of.
  • Always supervise children. Just a moment’s distraction could have serious consequences for a curious child.
  • Keep dogs on leads. Otherwise they could end up on the ice and in danger. Also don’t throw sticks and balls for dogs near ice.

If you do encounter someone who has fallen through ice:

  • Call 999 and request the assistance of the emergency services
  • Remain calm and give clear, accurate information about the situation and location
  • Do not attempt to go out onto the ice yourself.

Carlene continued: “To support communities to share and display this advice in their local areas, perhaps in areas known as ‘hot-spots’ for ice, WSS has developed ice safety resources such as posters, a leaflet and social media assets which are available from the WSS website to download and use.

“These are free of charge and available to everyone.”

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Station Commander James Sullivan added: “Every year our operational crews are called to assist people who have got into difficulty after venturing onto frozen water.

“The truth is that it is never a good idea to walk onto frozen water – especially with children.

“It’s also important for dog owners to avoid throwing sticks or balls near ice.

“If your pet does get into trouble on the ice, do not attempt a rescue yourself– dial 999 and try to remain calm while providing accurate information to our highly trained Operations Control staff.”

WSS would like to encourage those wishing to access these resources to follow this link to download these resources to get those key messages about ice safety out to members of the public this winter.

Princess Royal opens Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage

HRH The Princess Royal has officially opened a museum celebrating the remarkable history of Scotland’s firefighting tradition in Edinburgh.

Her Royal Highness is now one of more than 7,200 visitors who have visited the Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage since it opened its doors to the public in McDonald Road at the end of June.

The Rt. Hon Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, was one of several dignitaries to greet The Princess Royal. He said: “It was a pleasure to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to the city and the McDonald Road Community Fire and Ambulance Station on behalf of the people of Edinburgh.

“To have the opportunity to learn more about the rich history of firefighting in Scotland was also an extremely interesting and proud experience.

“I would like to thank the team at McDonald Road for accommodating us today and pay tribute to our fantastic firefighters, alongside our other emergency services, who make sure we are all kept safe.”

Ross Haggart, Chief Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was at the museum to extend a warm welcome to Princess Anne. He said: “We are deeply honoured to have the opportunity to show Her Royal Highness the fascinating exhibits that chart the remarkable history of our firefighting tradition.

“This special building is home to an array of artefacts dating back almost two hundred years, including fire appliances, uniforms and equipment.

“Next year, our service will be marking the bicentenary of the world’s first municipal fire service founded in Edinburgh by James Braidwood.”

As part of the visit, The Princess Royal was also given a tour of McDonald Road Community Fire and Ambulance Station, which has been newly refurbished as an emergency hub building alongside the Scottish Ambulance Service. HRH was greeted by a contingent of firefighters and ambulance crews.

Chair of the Scottish Ambulance Service, Tom Steele, said: “I was delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness to McDonald Road Community Fire and Ambulance Station alongside our colleagues at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“The museum is a fantastic celebration of the fire service’s history. As well as sharing a number of co-locations with the fire service, including here in Edinburgh, we share a strong history of caring for and improving the lives of the people in Scotland.

“We look forward to many more years of working together to provide life-saving work.”

After watching a demonstration of how firefighters use a high reach appliance, HRH was presented with a posy by Crew Commander Blair Muir, who carefully manoeuvred the vehicle so he could hand deliver the flowers from onboard the appliance.

The Princess Royal spoke with staff and volunteers, including Jim McDonald, a museum volunteer. Mr McDonald said: “It was a truly remarkable and humbling experience to meet Her Royal Highness. Her genuine interest in our exhibits left a lasting impression on all of us.”

At the end of the visit, The Princess Royal officially unveiled commemorative plaques, marking the official opening of the museum.

McDonald Road Community Fire and Ambulance Station has undergone renovations and modernisation and last month won a Commendation in the Large Projects and Regeneration/Strategy Award Categories for the 2023 Edinburgh Architectural Awards.

Further information about the museum can be found on the Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage website.

Scottish Fire and Rescue: Edinburgh Operations Control recruitment

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is recruiting for the next generation of 999 call handlers at its Operations Control site in Edinburgh.  

The role of Firefighter Control is the first point of contact for members of the public who dial 999 to report an emergency. It’s a vital role in keeping Scotland’s communities safe and ensuring that emergency incidents are dealt with effectively and efficiently.  

Group Commander Marie Clare Coyle said: “Our Firefighter Control staff provide a vital service to Scotland’s communities. Our teams are trained to an extremely high standard to enable them to provide emergency help where required.  

“It is a varied and hugely rewarding career, we deal with a range of calls from house fires and road traffic collisions, to major incidents and severe weather-related flooding, keeping people calm in times of distress and concentrating resources where they’re most required. “

 
SFRS is recruiting for Firefighter Control staff to be based at its city-centre site in the Scottish capital, which is located adjacent to Tollcross Community Fire Station. 

Applicants for must be aged 18 or over, with the ability to work rotating shifts.  

Successful applicants will join fellow Operations Control staff upon completion of a 14-week training period – learning how to co-ordinate emergency fire and rescue response and give potentially life-saving advice. 

Group Commander Coyle, who has worked for the service for 24 years, added: “Our Edinburgh control room primarily provides a response to incidents in the East Service Delivery Area and, where required, can support our other control rooms in Johnstone and Dundee. 

“We are looking for people who are motivated, have a willingness to learn, a strong team ethic and the ability to form relationships to take up these roles on Scotland’s unseen frontline.  

“We are a team and we work collectively to respond to each, and every emergency call across Scotland.” 

Find out more about the role and apply at:

 www.firescotland.gov.uk/careers/firefighter-control/ or via My Job Scotland.

Operation Crackle: Follow the Fireworks Code

We are working together with partners such as Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and The City of Edinburgh Council to educate and keep everyone safe in the lead-up to bonfire night.

Where possible, attend an organised display. It is safer and will be far more impressive to look at.

#OpCrackle

We are reminding people of the dangers of fireworks as we approach Bonfire Night. Check the Fireworks Code and get essential tips on staying safe.

Downloadable leaflet: https://rb.gy/cu5jn

Web: https://firescotland.gov.uk/outdoors/fireworks-and-bonfires/firework-safety/

Firefighters participate in “ground-breaking” health trials

  • Hundreds of firefighters to be tested this week for cancer and other health issues in Scotland as part of a UK-wide firefighter health monitoring research project, commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and carried out by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
  • Firefighters are currently not provided with regular monitoring in UK despite risk of occupational cancer
  • FBU calls for urgent action to protect firefighters

A firefighter cancer monitoring project has been launched in Scotland as part of a new UK wide research project commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). The testing is being carried out by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), led by a world expert in fire toxicity, Professor Anna Stec.

Trials took place in Edinburgh from Monday 11th until Wednesday 13th September. 

Nearly 200 Scottish firefighters are participating by providing blood and urine samples. The results will be used to detect cancers and other diseases at the early stages, and to identify evidence linking occupational cancers with exposure to toxic fire chemicals. 

The Scottish Government has provided funding of £56,000 towards this project, while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is working with the FBU and UCLan to facilitate the testing.

This follows research finding that incidence of cancer among UK firefighters aged 35-39 is up to 323% higher than in the general population in the same age category. 

This testing project is the first of its kind to take place for firefighters in the UK and follows the World Health Organisation announcement that occupational exposure as a firefighter is carcinogenic.

Riccardo La Torre, FBU national officer, said: “This research is a vital part of our campaign to protect firefighters from cancer and other occupational disease. The Fire Brigades Union is proud to have led the way in fighting for the protections we need to stop preventable deaths, while employers and governments have failed to act.

“The UK is decades behind many other countries on this issue. While it is positive that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has supported this week’s initiative, we urgently need regular UK-wide monitoring to catch occupational diseases early and save firefighters’ lives.”

John McKenzie, FBU Scotland regional secretary said: “Every firefighter who has volunteered to participate in these health trials should be proud of their contribution to workplace safety. The evidence shows that exposure to toxic contaminants in fire is putting firefighters’ health at risk. We must see serious action to save lives from occupational cancer and diseases.

“We are pleased that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is supporting this ground-breaking research and are committed to furthering this vital work. It is imperative that firefighters continue to see improvements to preventative measures within their workplaces over the months ahead.”

SFRS Assistant Chief Officer Andy Watt said: “The SFRS has already undertaken work to minimise the risk of contaminants for our staff and we will continue to work in partnership with the FBU and Professor Anna Stec to develop and deliver further improvements that will help mitigate the effects of contaminants.

“There are a wide number of areas of work that we are progressing through our Contaminants Group that will take time to deliver, and staff will see the phased implementation of these changes and improvements over the coming months.”

Anna Stec, professor in fire chemistry and toxicity at the University of Central Lancashire, said: “This is the first study of its kind in UK and the research brings to light the wide range of occupational hazards that firefighters face.

“It is vital that firefighters can continue to do their jobs as safely as possible, and the research shows that measures such as health monitoring and reducing exposure from contaminants at the workplace will play an important part in protecting firefighters.

“We hope that working with organisations like SFRS will not only help us to create a safer working environment in Scotland, but will also introduce a change to the wider sector.”

Business Stream awards £50k to water efficiency projects

Scotland’s public bodies receive vital funding from water retailer

ONE of the UK’s largest water retailers has donated £50,000 to public sector organisations throughout Scotland to help fund water efficiency projects.

Edinburgh-based Business Stream set up its annual Public Sector Scotland (PSS) Water Efficiency Fund to help organisations such as local councils, schools and universities deliver environmental and financial savings.

This year, the retailer has awarded funding to Midlothian Council which is looking to generate efficiencies at two of its primary schools. Funding has also been awarded to South Lanarkshire College and Glasgow Kelvin College, both of which are using the money to invest in water saving devices, rainwater harvesting apparatus and water efficiency audits.

Scottish Fire and Rescue has also been awarded funding for a water efficiency audit across nine stations, and East Ayrshire Council and charity body, Glasgow Life, is hoping the investment will improve their urinal flow facilities.

In addition to providing funding, Business Stream will also support the delivery of each project.

Chief Executive of Business Stream, Jo Dow said: “It’s important to us that we do everything we can to help organisations become more water efficient. We’re delighted that our fund is supporting the public sector throughout Scotland to generate environmental and financial savings for the fourth year running.

“Our fund provides an opportunity for forward thinking organisations to implement steps that will directly benefit their bottom line and support their sustainability goals.”

The fund allocation process was overseen by a judging panel comprising of representatives from Business Stream, the Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC), public sector bodies and Scottish Procurement.

Sheona McIntyre, Environment Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue, said: “Business Stream’s fund will not only help the Scottish Fire and Rescue service deliver water efficiencies, but also help to further educate our teams on the importance of using water wisely and being conscious of waste water.

“We’re delighted to have been awarded funding.”

Business Stream recently announced it had saved Scotland’s public sector a record £2.85million over the course of the last year, taking total savings over three years to £6.4million. As a result of the retailer’s activities, the sector has also saved more than 1.365 billion litres of water over the past year, equivalent to the volume of 546 Olympic swimming pools.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, with a presence in Worthing, West Sussex and in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Business Stream is guided by its ambitious vision to make a positive difference (MAPD) to its customers, its people, the environment and local communities.

Since launching that vision in 2019, the UK’s second largest water retailer has introduced more than 30 initiatives, several of which have contributed to its latest reduction of 50% in carbon emissions over the past year.

While the company achieved a 25% reduction in 2021-22, the 2022-23 figure, which has been externally verified, is a significant step toward Business Stream becoming net zero by 2030 – well ahead of the Scottish Government’s 2045 target.

In recognition of its efforts to operate as a responsible business, the retailer was awarded a Gold rating by global sustainability assessors, EcoVadis, in November 2022, placing it within the top 5% of companies measured across four key sustainability areas – the environment, sustainable procurement, labour and working conditions and ethics.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service remembers fallen comrade

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service held a Commemoration Service at the James Braidwood statue in Parliament Square on Wednesday to remember Firefighter Ewan Williamson, who tragically lost his life during firefighting and rescue operations at the Balmoral Bar in Edinburgh in 2009.

Ewan’s existing and retired SFRS colleagues stood alongside family and close friends to remember him. The service included addresses from Ewan’s sister, Chief Officer Ross Haggart, the Depute Lord Provost, Watch Commander Robert Donaldson and readings from the SFRS Chaplains.

SFRS colleagues, representatives from the public sector and charity organisations from across the city were also in attendance at the event held on Wednesday (12 July) to remember the tragic circumstances at the Balmoral Bar.

To conclude the service a one minute silence was observed followed by a wreath laying ceremony involving members of Ewan’s family alongside the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Chief Officer Ross Haggart.

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At 00:38am, on 12 July 2009, Firefighter Williamson was a member of the first attending crews at a fire in the basement of the Balmoral Bar on Dalry Road in Edinburgh.

As the devastating fire spread, Ewan and his colleagues were deployed to tackle the fire in the basement and ground floor levels. This enabled other SFRS personnel to carry out multiple rescues of occupants from domestic flats in the three floors above, whose lives were endangered by the smoke and flames.

Firefighter Williamson, 35, who was a member of the Green Watch at Tollcross Fire Station, entered the building wearing breathing apparatus as part of the efforts to extinguish the fire. Tragically, he became trapped during firefighting operations and lost his life in the line of duty.

A total of 16 people, including a baby, were rescued that night, an outcome that could have been very different had it not been for the bravery of Ewan and his colleagues responding to the incident.

CO Haggart said: “My thoughts are with Firefighter Williamson’s family, friends and loved ones during this very difficult time of the year.

“Ewan’s ultimate sacrifice reminds us all of the extraordinary lengths our firefighters go to protect our communities.

“It’s of the utmost importance that our fallen colleagues are recognised and remembered for their courage and dedication to their role.”

Ewan’s family described him as having a “wonderful spirit, a smile that would light up a football field and a witty sense of humour that we miss deeply.

“He was a kind and giving person, always willing to help anyone. He was a loving son and not only a brother, but a best friend to his sisters, Rachel and Rebecca.”

Fire Brigades Union Regional Treasurer, Seona Hart, said: “Firefighter Ewan Williamson paid the ultimate sacrifice serving the public.

“We remember Ewan 14 years on from that fateful day on the 12th of July, 2009 and send our love and heartfelt thoughts to Ewan’s mum Linda, sisters Rachel and Rebecca, Ewan’s colleagues and all those that loved him.

“Ewan will never be forgotten and will always be in our thoughts.”

Crews from the Service all around the country also honoured Ewan’s courage, bravery and selflessness at 11am.