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Firefighters from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) take part in the Cuts Leave Scars rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, October 26, 2023
NEW data reveals the growing fire cover crisis facing rural communities across Scotland, the Fire Brigades Union warned today.
The number of fire engines in retained stations that are unavailable 50 per cent of the time or more rose to 49 in 2025/26 — up from 31 four years ago, a parliamentary question has revealed.
FBU Scottish secretary John McKenzie said that the data exposes “the extent of the crisis in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”
“The overwhelming reason fire appliances are unavailable is the lack of staff to crew them,” he added.
“Simply put: budget cuts mean fewer firefighters, fewer firefighters mean increased response times and increased response times lead to greater loss of life.”
Retained fire stations are called into action via a pager rather than being stationed full time.
The overwhelming majority are in remote, rural and island communities, though some are located in urban areas.
Cuts are sweeping campuses as cash-strapped universities slash staff and politicians fail to act on a growing funding emergency. VINCE MILLS reports
Since 2010, one in five firefighter jobs has disappeared alongside 30% funding cuts — all while climate breakdown brings record blazes and flooding. It’s time to fund our fire service properly, writes FBU general secretary STEVE WRIGHT
