Shock figures have revealed the number of firefighters has plummeted to a new low. The all-staff total at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has been slashed to just 7,715 - a fall of nearly 15 per cent in a decade.
Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur said: “This is yet another public service being hollowed out by the SNP. “The recent droughts left Scotland extremely vulnerable to fires.
"People count on the fire service to be there when they need them, but with staffing at its lowest level for a decade, more SNP/ Green cuts would further expose the service and increase the risks. SFRS need to be properly resourced and equipped to tackle the challenges they face day-in, day-out.”
Regional fire bodies made way for a single service in 2013, a move critics believe has paved the way for driving down staff numbers. Statistics published by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service now reveal the lowest staff figures of any year in a decade.
The “wholetime operational” number was 4,159 ten years ago, but now stands at 3,531. Although “retained duty” staff used to come in at 3,052, the figure for 2021/22 is 2,758.
Staff in “control” have fallen over the same period from 234 to 174, while support personnel have seen a drop from 1,136 to 922. Volunteers are also down from a decade ago, with the all-staff total falling by 1,325 compared to ten years ago.
It comes as members of the Fire Brigades Union prepare to vote on strike action over a two per cent pay offer. Tens of thousands of firefighters are voting on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.
John McKenzie, Scottish Secretary of Fire Brigades Union, said: “These figures show the true extent of the staffing crisis in the Service. This has resulted in longer response times to incidents, reduced crewing levels and increased danger for our communities when they are exposed to fires, flooding and other emergency situations.”
“Scottish Ministers must take responsibility for this situation. We need fair pay, a major recruitment drive and sustained investment in the Service. Anything less will see more lives, more properties and more businesses put at risk.”
David Farries, Assistant Chief Officer at the SFRS, said: “We look to recruit wholetime firefighters year-round and we also continually seek to employ on call staff in the areas where they are needed. These are rewarding roles for dedicated individuals who want to make a positive impact in our communities.
“While a longer-term picture does show an overall decrease in the number of wholetime firefighters, this reduction is predominantly due to a transition to a standardised duty system and the removal of duplicate posts between legacy services.
“We have the capacity and flexibility as a national service to move appliances and personnel to wherever they may be required to keep communities safe.”
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