Firefighters quit over blaze-battle ban

An entire unit in the remote village of Ardgour in Ardnamurchan has refused to sign the contracts; other volunteers in Strathpeffer and Balintore in Ross-shire and in Lybster in Caithness also refused to sign.

The Highland and Islands Fire Board voted in March to end the firefighting duties of 32 auxiliary units in rural parts of the region. It followed a decision by HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland that the units were "non-strategic" for firefighting purposes as members were not adequately trained or equipped.

The units looked like closing, as upgrading was said to cost 500,000 each, but the board gave them an alternative role in fire safety. They are no longer able to tackle house fires, although some are able to fight heath fires and attend road accidents. Some communities have said the move could lead to lives and property being lost.

John Urquhart, the Highland Fire Brigade Union secretary, said: "The volunteers are demoralised at the role they have been given which is like secondary social workers.

"They are going to people’s houses and giving them advice about smoke alarms, not to smoke in bed and not to leave the chip pan unattended. How many times can you do that in a small place like Ardgour?

"We have asked the fire board and management to reconsider and allow them to have a more active role. At the moment some can get sent to road traffic accidents, but if the car goes on fire they have to be withdrawn.

"They can attend a car accident but can’t go to a wheelie bin on fire. It’s not logical."

Kenny Ross, the FBU’s Scottish regional secretary, said: "Scotland is the only country [in the UK] that has volunteer fire units and the Highlands and Islands has the bulk of them because of the size of the area.

"Other areas [in Scotland] do not have this problem at present, but we don’t know what will come of this. It may well spread to other areas."

David Corrigan, a member of the Ardgour unit, said: "For the first time in many years the village of Ardgour will have no auxiliary fire unit. The next nearest station is 14 miles away and, depending on the time of year, it can take 40-45 minutes to reach Ardgour. It could have serious implications."

Graham McGregor, a firefighter in Strathpeffer, said he felt there was a "gun at our heads" to sign the contracts: "If we sign we don’t know what will happen in future, but if we don’t sign the area will lose a vital part of the community."

Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, said he was annoyed at the situation: "I raised this in parliament two years ago and we still have not got it right."

Drew Macfarlane Slack, the fire board convener, said enhanced cover was provided by nearby units: "The fire board have approved these roles and if they are not able to do it we will have to recruit new staff who are able to fulfil these roles.

"The new units have serious roles which have at their heart the prevention of fire and it’s through that we are going to make the greatest inroads in reducing fire deaths.

"Seven units will also have an improved road accident role which is a very serious matter."