Fire Crews Respond To Storm Incidents

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crews and control room staff in the North have been working hard through the night to help keep people safe. Crews have been busiest in the Highlands and Islands, the area which has been the most seriously affected by the winter storms. Control in Inverness received 67 calls for assistance between midnight and 9am this morning and attended 31 incidents. During the night firefighters have responded to a number of incidents including 13 false alarms, several due to weather affecting fire alarm systems and one wildfire caused by a sparks from a hydro pole igniting a tree. There were also 17 special services calls which included securing dangerous property and assisting other agencies in reaching vulnerable or ill people. An appliance from Inverness was called to respond to an incident at the Premier Inn in Millburn Road, Inverness where the weather led to the collapse of the gable end of the building. Crews entered the premises at 3.04am and evacuated people from adjacent bedrooms before making the area safe and cordoning it off. At 6.59am the appliance at Drumnadrochit responded to a request from partner agencies to clear the roadway of fallen trees to allow Scottish Ambulance Service to gain access to the occupier complaining of severe chest pains. Once access was gained, the crew assisted in the transport of the casualty to a nearby car park for airlift by an air ambulance. Later at 7.43am Dunbeath’s crew responded to a request to clear the roadway to allow ambulance access to a seriously ill elderly person and at 7.49am Great Bernera cleared a shed from a roadway to allow carers access to a vulnerable elderly lady. Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Andy Coueslant, said: "When needed our crews have been providing vital life-saving assistance and helping our partners at Scottish Ambulance Service reach vulnerable people in their hour of need. "We will continue to do all we can to help keep people in the North of Scotland safe by working closely with partner agencies."