Firefighters warn of terrorist risk to key military sites due to station cuts

Scotland could be left wide open to the effects of a terror attack if plans to downgrade vital fire stations go ahead.

Firefighters warn plans to downgrade the full-time station at Helensburgh to day cover means key targets such as Faslane, the Royal Naval Armament Depot at Coulport and the Glen Douglas military munitions depot are at risk.

They say the nearest responding station would be Clydebank, with a journey time of at least 25 minutes.

The concerns are raised as plans to downgrade some of Scotland’s busiest fire stations and axe hundreds of firefighters are unveiled this week.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is launching a 12-week public consultation. Some stations that are currently manned 24 hours a day will be cut to just weekday daytime hours.

Both Milngavie and Helensburgh are earmarked to become day-shift only with the loss of at least 17 posts and the reduction of full-time cover.

One Helensburgh firefighter said: “We cover three major sites which could be targeted by terrorists: Faslane naval base, Coulport and the Glen Douglas defence munitions depot, which have thousands of workers on duty at certain times.

“Every fire has the potential to be catastrophic, but if there was a terrorist attack on any of those sites in particular the consequences of not getting there as quickly as possible do not bear thinking about.

“If those plans go ahead and a call-out came outside day-shift times it could take up to 25 minutes for the nearest station at Clydebank to get to the scene, and that absolutely could be catastrophic for Scotland.”

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Edinburgh’s Marionville station is facing closure due to the presence of RAAC concrete in the building. Its pump is to be sent to Newcraighall, with the loss of five jobs.

One firefighter said: “There are grave concerns over plans to reduce services in Edinburgh with Marionville under threat despite that station ensuring no loss of life at a block of flats at Restalrig Park last Sunday.”

Other stations that face changing to weekday daytime opening are Hawick, which will lose 25 posts, and Cumbernauld. The temporary removal of specialist pumps and engines at Perth, Glenrothes, Dunfermline and Methil in 2023 are to become permanent, with proposals to move an appliance from Lochgelly to another Fife station.

Plans include making Bellshill a two-pump station covered by a day shift with Hamilton downgraded to just one pump, or if two pumps are retained, one will be day-shift only.

Musselburgh and Tranent will be closed, with both stations replaced by a new build at Tranent.

Balmossie in Dundee faces closure or downgrading, with the loss of five full-time posts and around 12 retained firefighters. A second pump may be reinstated at Kingsway East.

Scottish Fire Brigade Union (FBU) Regional Secretary John McKenzie said: “The fire service is already on its knees after years of real-terms budget cuts now reaching £83 million and the loss of over 12,000 firefighter posts.

“That leads to increases in response times, and when response times increase it is inevitable lives will be lost – lives that could have been saved.”

Each year, firefighters respond to around 40,000 accidental house fires. Deaths have fallen from over 100 two decades ago to 42 last year.

Three years ago, the government asked firefighters to provide basic medical cover such as attending cardiac arrests or drug overdoses as well as adding skills allowing them to aid police, ambulance and army personnel during terrorist attacks, flooding and other emergency situations.

FBU Regional Chair Gus Sproul said: “We agreed to the government request for us to expand our roles. However, that plan, which would have saved many more lives as well as saving the stations and jobs at risk today, has lain mouldering in the Community Safety Minister’s drawer and not been actioned.”

SFRS Assistant Chief Officer David Farries said: “The safety of our communities and firefighters is our top priority in any proposals being ­considered. Any permanent changes to our station footprint or how we deliver services will only come after the public consultation process and a final decision has been made.”

The SFRS says part-time crews will bolster cover in stations like Helensburgh.

The Scottish Government said: “We continue to support SFRS with substantial year-on-year budget increases that enable it to deliver the high standard of services required to keep communities safe. This year’s Budget includes £412.2m for SFRS – an increase of £18.8m.”