There’s been another deliberate fire in North Edinburgh – for the third successive weekend.
This time, a garden shed in Easter Drylaw Drive was set ablaze in the early hours of this morning. Police, fire and ambulance services were on the scene from 1.30am and the road was temporarily closed while the fire was tackled.
It’s the third weekend in a row that there have been wilful fireraising incidents in the North Edinburgh community – and all have taken place in the early hours of the morning.
Last week’s meeting of Drylaw Telford Community Council discussed the arson incidents that took place on 18 September and the group issued an appeal on their Facebook page:
‘These fires were devastating to those affected and we are extremely lucky that more people were not injured. The “what if’s” do not bear thinking about.
‘The unusually dry weather for September that we have had recently would make any fire spread faster therefore It is so important that the perpetrators are caught and for this not to happen again.
‘The police have been talking to residents that have CCTV but we would urge anyone with CCTV, ring doorbell camera’s etc who have not yet been contacted to please contact:
The Police on 101 quoting incident number 0765 of the 18th September 2021.
Anonomously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Message this page and we can forward information
‘Likewise, if anyone has any information at all, then please make contact using the above methods.’
The future role of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) as it adapts to meet new challenges is at the heart of a new consultation.
The overriding purpose of SFRS will remain the protection of communities, preventing fires and reducing their impact on society while maintaining the safety and mental wellbeing of staff.
However, the consultation will ask the public about the increasing impact of climate change and the need for SFRS to take account of greater risks from flooding and wildfires.
The importance of SFRS making a full contribution to the Scottish Government’s Net Zero emissions targets will also be highlighted at a time when Glasgow is preparing to host the COP26 environment conference in November.
Supporting the modernisation of SFRS and investing to allow it to expand its community safety and prevention work is a key commitment in the Programme for Government.
Other key issues in the consultation on an updated Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland include:
use of new technology and modernisation of facilities and equipment
effective use of resources
keeping rural communities safe
Community Safety Minister Ash Denham said: “Throughout the pandemic SFRS has been at the forefront of our response in meeting the needs of local communities in any way they are able to, from delivering prescriptions and food to using rural fire stations as Covid testing sites.
“In addition to the challenges which Covid recovery brings, Scotland is also facing significant changes as a result of EU exit, climate change, population changes and the expectations the public holds for all public services.
“All organisations need to adapt to these new demands and this framework will pave the way for further evolution, just as the challenges faced by SFRS continue to evolve.
“While the challenges Scotland faces are ever more complex, they also serve to foster opportunities for dynamic public sector organisations like SFRS to flourish and we encourage everyone who has an interest in this important consultation to have their say.”
Around 64,000 hours of firefighters’ time is needlessly spent each year checking out false alarms from workplaces, figures from the latest Scottish Fire and Rescue Service consultation show.
The Service mobilises on average two fire appliances and nine firefighters to each of the 28,479 false alarms – equating to around 57,000 unnecessary blue light journeys annually.
Most alarms are activated by faults or other causes like steam or burnt food with only two per cent actually involving a fire, most of which are put out before the arrival of crews.
The information has been shared by the national Service as part of its consultation on how to safely reduce call outs to false alarms, known as Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS).
Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens says businesses and partners can play a key role in reducing the figures and called on them to get involved in the consultation.
“The advantages of getting duty holders to accept their legal responsibilities and reducing these callouts are clear” said ACO Stevens, “Making this change means we can free up firefighters’ time, be even more responsive in genuine emergencies and use SFRS resources more effectively.
“We can also carry out more training and fire prevention activity, as well as realising the related benefits of improving road safety and reducing our carbon impact. These unnecessary blue light journeys bring risks to our crews, other road users and pedestrians as well as impacting the environment with an estimated 575 tonnes of carbon emissions produced – the equivalent of heating 230 homes a year.
“Businesses will also experience less disruption as they no longer need to wait for us to attend to give the all clear after a false alarm.”
The twelve-week consultation – which seeks views on three proposed options – is underway and while early analysis is encouraging with many members of the public taking part it also indicates a low response rate from the businesses and workplaces that are potentially most affected by the proposed changes.
Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens added: “It may be that these businesses and organisations are taking their time to fully consider the proposed options and I’m also aware last month we were just coming out of a holiday period which is why we’re issuing this appeal for those most affected to take part in the consultation and play their part in helping to shape the future response model.”
The consultation brings the SFRS into line with the majority of UK fire and rescue services response to workplace automatic fire alarms (AFAs) explained Assistant Chief Officer Stevens: “The legal responsibility for dealing with an AFA alert lies with the duty holder of a property and most UK fire and rescue services now seek confirmation of a fire before attending. It’s now time for the SFRS make this change too.”
ACO Stevens added: “Each of the options, which have all been risk assessed, will see a significant reduction in the number of UFAS calls we attend. We want to know what those most affected think of our three proposed options I urge them to have their say on how they think we can best use our resources to keep them, their families and their communities even safer.”
The consultation document ‘Time for Change: Reducing Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals’ (UFAS) and survey can be accessed online at /consultations/ufas-consultation.aspx until Monday, October 11.
A report based on analysis of the consultation responses – including a preferred option – will be considered by the SFRS Board in December 2021. Any changes to service delivery will be implemented in a carefully managed process and in partnership with directly affected stakeholders.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are currently in attendance at a large #fire on George IV Bridge. More than 60 firefighters are working to extinguish the fire in the city centre.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 6.18am this morning (Tuesday, 24 August) to reports of a building on fire at George IV Bridge.
Operations Control mobilised nine appliances and two height vehicles to the area where the fire was found to be affecting a number of properties. A further three appliances were mobilised.
Crews remain on the scene and are expected to do so for some time as they work to make the area safe.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Assistant Chief Officer David Farries is the Incident Commander. He said: “This is undoubtedly a complex and challenging incident.
“I would like to thank our crews as they work to extinguish the fire. I would also like to thank our emergency services colleagues and local authority partners.
“We will remain in attendance for a considerable time yet as we work to contain the fire.”
DACO Farries continued: “We continue to ask people living nearby to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke.
“Road closures remain in place and we advise people to avoid the area and to allow access for emergency service vehicles.”
Nearby residents advised to keep windows & doors closed and road closures remain in place.
Campaign urges homeowners to install interlinked alarms to protect lives
Homeowners are being urged to install interlinked heat and smoke alarms in a nationwide media campaign launched before new fire safety laws come into effect next year.
From February all homeowners will be required to have interlinked alarms under legislation brought forward after the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017. These alarms significantly reduce casualties by alerting everybody in a property to a fire. Most homes will also require a carbon monoxide alarm.
Private rented and new-build homes must already meet these standards, but from February they will apply to every home in Scotland, regardless of age or tenure.
The cost for an average three bedroom house which requires three smoke alarms, one heat alarm and one carbon monoxide detector is estimated to be about £220. This is based on using the type of alarms that can be installed by the homeowner, without the need for an electrician. The Scottish Government is providing £500,000 to help eligible older and disabled homeowners with installation, in partnership with Care and Repair Scotland.
Housing Secretary Shona Robison said: “One death from a house fire is one too many, and improving fire safety remains our utmost priority.
“In February Scotland will become the first UK nation to require every home to have interlinked fire alarms, which significantly reduce the risk of injury or death. If there is a fire in one room it will set off alarms throughout the property, giving residents more time to escape.
“Homeowners are generally responsible for paying for works to protect their property, but we know some may not be able to meet the cost of fitting these alarms. That is why we are providing £500,000 to help disabled and older people, on top of the £1 million we have already provided to the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service to install alarms in owner-occupied homes identified as being at highest risk.”
Alasdair Perry, Head of Prevention and Protection at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Having the earliest possible warning of a fire in the home can and has saved lives and property. Having interlinked alarms installed will allow everyone, anywhere in the house to take action as quickly as possible.
“The Scottish Government has provided financial support to our Home Fire Safety Visit programme, which will allow us to fit to the new standard in the homes of those identified through our robust criteria as being at higher risk. However, if we go to any property that has no detection, we will still provide a battery-operated stand-alone smoke detector and advise the occupant about the new standard for the fire and smoke alarms required by the legislation in all Scottish homes.”
Robert Thomson, National Director of Care and Repair Scotland, said: “Care and Repair Scotland has assisted older and disabled homeowners in repairing and adapting their homes since 1988.
“Therefore, we are pleased to be administering the fire alarms assistance package for lower-income older and disabled homeowners. This funding will support our overall aim to help homeowners live independently and safely at home for as long as possible.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to stay safe in and around water this summer.The reminder has been issued following the deaths of six people in Scotland’s waterways between Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24.
This included the recovery of a 16-year-old from the water at Balloch Country Park on Friday, July 23, an 11-year-old from the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Park in Stonehouse on Saturday, July 24, and a 13-year-old from water at Hazelbank, near Lanark on Sunday, July 25.
On Saturday, July 24, a further three people lost their lives in water near Pulpit Rock, Ardlui. They were a 41-year-old man, 29-year-old woman and a nine year old boy, while a seven year old boy remains in hospital in intensive care.
Alasdair Perry is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Assistant Chief Officer and Head of Prevention and Protection.
DACO Perry said: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences and those of everyone at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to those affected by this weekend’s tragic events.
“They are a very sad reminder that Scotland’s waterways can be dangerous, and we are asking everyone to take care and heed all available advice.”
Many people have chosen to visit lochs, rivers, and reservoirs due to the warm weather.
However, despite high temperatures, the water can still be extremely cold and people can get into difficulty due to cold water shock. This can interrupt breathing, cause loss of strength and coordination and affect swimmers of any age, fitness, or experience level.
Scotland’s many waterways can also have hidden dangers such as fast moving currents or obstacles which can also present a risk.
DACO Perry advises: “If you do get into trouble, try to keep calm then control your breathing. Lie on your back, spread out your arms and legs and float or swim. Then shout for help and, if you can, make your way to safety.
“We would ask that no-one swims alone and that, where you can, have the proper buoyancy and safety equipment. Never leave children or young people unattended and do not mix alcohol with swimming.”
Water Safety Scotland is a voluntary association of organisations and individuals whose main purpose is to understand the risks around water in Scotland and engage with partners to develop a consistent approach to the prevention of water related fatalities.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is a member of that group.
DACO Perry added: “We are committed to working with our partners and through Water Safety Scotland to educate as many people as possible about the risks involved in swimming or playing in water.
“In coming weeks, we will be conducting more visits to popular areas to engage with swimmers and visitors directly. “I would urge people to visit our website to find out more about how to stay safe.”
A very high risk wildfire warning has been issued in Scotland from Saturday, July 24 until Monday, July 26.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) issued the warning and is urging people who live within or who may enter rural environments to exercise caution.
The alert – released in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) – covers Easter Ross, Central Highlands,and South West Scotland. A moderate to high warning is also in place for Central and Western Scotland.
Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife; and threaten the welfare of nearby communities.
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Alasdair Perry is head of prevention and protection for SFRS. He said: “We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.
“Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.
“Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities.
“These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
“Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments, and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”
The term ‘cold water shock’ refers to a range of natural reactions that our bodies take to protect us when we enter cold water (although these reactions can sometimes work against us). And with cold water being anything from approximately the temperature of a swimming pool and below, we are not just talking about icy cold water here.
So what are the effects of Cold Water Shock?
There are three stages that your body goes through during cold water shock, starting with one that you will be familiar with a mild version of from getting into the swimming pool…a gasp for breath, this is then followed by rapid breathing (hyperventilation).
At the same time as your breathing goes out of control, your blood pressure shoots up as your body tries to keep your blood warm by moving it towards the middle of your body (this is why you go pale when you’re cold).
Once your breathing is back under control, this is your window to get out of the water before the further effects of cold water shock kick in.
As your muscles cool, your strength, endurance and muscle control reduces to the point when you can’t swim any longer so can’t rescue yourself. The point at which you can’t swim any more is called ‘swim failure’, and if you haven’t got out of the water or managed to get hold of a buoyancy aid (like a lifejacket) by this time, you will drown.
What about hypothermia?
There is a lot of talk of people dying from hypothermia after falling into cold water, but the truth is that unless they have a way of surviving past the point of swim failure (like wearing a lifejacket), you will drown before you become hypothermic.
Even in really cold water, it takes at least 30 minutes for you to become hypothermic. Crucially, hypothermia remains a risk even when you get out of the water unless you get out of the cold and warm up efficiently and quickly.
Is cold water shock really responsible for lots of drownings?
It is difficult to identify if cold water shock was the cause of a drowning or not, but this is what we know:
All waters around the UK are cold enough to induce the cold shock effects, even in high summer.
Over 60% of drownings are of people who have ended up in the water by accident, so they’re normally very close to the edge, but something stops them from being able to get out safely.
A sudden rise in blood pressure can be fatal for people with a pre-existing heart condition. Each year a number of people who are suspected of drowning, turn out to have had a heart attack.
Studies show that people’s ability to swim in cold water is much less than their ability in a warm swimming pool.
Survivors of drowning have described how the effects of cold water shock made it difficult for them to survive.
What should you do if you fall into the water?
First, keep your mouth away from the water until you have your breathing back under control, you can do this by rolling onto your back and floating or paddling to stay at the surface.
Then, don’t waste any time and swim towards an exit before your muscles start to cool, or swim towards something that will help you to stay afloat whilst you are calling for help.
Finally, once you are out of the water re-warm yourself as soon as you can to avoid hypothermia.
Drowning Prevention Week is the national campaign run by the Royal Life Saving Society UK to cut down the number of drownings that occur each year. Please support RLSS UK by donating to help save lives
Prof Mike Tipton, Cold Water Shock
Professor Mike Tipton of the University of Portsmouth provides an excellent insight into the effects of cold water, why it can be dangerous and what can be done to keep yourself safe.
A consultation on proposals to change the response to workplace automatic fire alarm (AFA) signals has been launched by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). These alerts result in more than 28000 call outs each year, with only two per-cent of all incidents resulting in a fire.
The potential options for responding to AFAs are outlined in a consultation document ‘Time for Change: Reducing Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals’ (UFAS) and the public are being encouraged to take part and give their views.
The twelve-week consultation will seek views on three proposed options – developed in partnership with staff and stakeholders – to allow the SFRS to use its resources more effectively in future.
Chief Officer Martin Blunden explained why change is needed: “We undertake in the region of 57,000 unnecessary blue light journeys every year responding to workplace AFAs that turn out to be false alarms. This brings risks to our crews, other road users and pedestrians as well as having an impact on the environment with an estimated 575 tonnes of carbon emissions produced.
“In almost all cases they are false alarms and only two per-cent result in fires, many of which are often extinguished before we arrive. In changing our response to these calls, we can use SFRS resources more effectively, including further improving our response to genuine emergencies. We can also use this time for more training and fire prevention activity, as well as realising the knock-on benefits of improving road safety and reducing our carbon impact.
“It will also mean less disruption to businesses as they no longer need to wait for us to attend to give the all clear after an AFA.
“What I also want to be clear on is that there is no change to how we respond to AFAs that are confirmed fires or from private homes, this consultation is about changing our response to workplace AFAs only.”
The consultation brings the SFRS into line with how the majority of UK fire and rescue services respond to workplace AFAs explained Chief Officer Blunden: “The legal responsibility for dealing with an AFA alert lies with the duty holder of a property and most UK fire and rescue services now seek confirmation of a fire before attending.
“Current SFRS practice means that every AFA has an average response of two fire appliances involving at least nine firefighters. Each call takes on average 15 minutes and workplaces and businesses face disruption while firefighters enter the building to confirm on ninety-eight per cent of occasions there is in fact no fire.”
He stressed the scale of the current practice saying: “If we can change how we respond to these alerts potentially 64,000 hours of staff time can be freed up for other activities, including responding even more quickly to genuine emergencies. That’s why we are consulting with the public and key stakeholders to seek their views on the best way to respond to these types of alerts in future.”
Chief Officer Blunden added: “Each of the options will see a significant reduction in the number of UFAS calls we attend. We want to know what you think of our three proposed options so please read the document and have your say on how you think we can best use our resources to keep you, your family and your community even safer.”
The consultation document and survey can be accessed online at
A report based on analysis of the consultation responses – including a preferred option – will be considered by the SFRS Board in December 2021. Any changes to service delivery will be implemented from early 2022 in a carefully managed process and in partnership with directly affected stakeholders.
The three options being consulted on are:
Option A – 61% reduction in attendances
Our Operations Control (OC) will call challenge all AFAs from non-domestic premises, unless exempt
No response is mobilised, if questioning confirms there is no fire, or signs of fire
Sleeping risk premises are exempt from call challenging and will receive the following immediate response:
Residential Care Homes receive a pre-determined attendance (PDA) of two fire appliances regardless time of day
All other sleeping risks receive a PDA of one fire appliance between 0700-1800hrs and two fire appliances out-with these hours
Option B – 85% reduction in attendances
Our OC staff will call challenge all AFAs from non-domestic premises.
No response will be mobilised, if questioning through call challenge confirms there is no fire, or signs of fire.
No exemptions to call challenging apply (i.e. all AFA calls received are call challenged, regardless of property type and caller).
Option C – 71% reduction in attendances
Non-attendance to AFAs from non-domestic premises.
Our OC staff will advise the caller that we will not attend unless a back-up 999 call confirming fire, or signs of fire is received.
Property types recognised by us as having sleeping provision will be exempt and therefore they will receive the following immediate response to an AFA:
Residential Care Homes will receive a PDA of two fire appliances regardless of the time of day
All other sleeping risks receive a PDA of one fire appliance between 0700-1800hrs and a PDA of two fire appliances out-with these hours
Warm weather and rising wind speeds forecast for this weekend have increased the risk of surface fires across Eastern Scotland.
The wildfire danger assessment has been issued by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service today (Friday, July 16) in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF).
These surface fires could burn and spread with moderate to high intensity over Saturday and Sunday.
In Easter Ross, Inverness-shire and Morayshire, there could be very high fire intensity with wind speeds the highest on Saturday.
Area Commander Bruce Farquharson, the SFRS Wildfire Lead, said: “We are in the height of summer and with the warm forecast for the weekend it could bring with it the potential for wildfires, which can devastate vast areas of land and wildlife.
“As always, we would urge people who live within the high risk regions to be extremely careful.
“Please act safely and responsibly if you are out and about over the next few days.”
Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which can be found on the SFRS website.
