Concern over shortage of fire engine cover in Aberdeen

Concerns about a shortage of fire engine cover in Aberdeen have been raised with the First Minister.

The Fire Brigades Union Scotland has voiced safety fears after several appliances in the city were stood down overnight.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service assistant chief officer Lewis Ramsay has apologised for the incidents but said no lives had been put at risk.

Conservative North East Scotland MSP Liam Kerr raised the issue during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood.

He said: “In my region there is serious public concern over a shortage of fire engine cover in Aberdeen with appliances routinely stood down due to a shortage of crew.”

He called on Ms Sturgeon to set out what processes would be improved, and called for action to strengthen local decision-making “as more centralisation isn't the answer”.

Nicola Sturgeon responded: “I do believe in the importance of local decision- making and indeed, deployment decisions including the provision of fire appliances are an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“In terms of the situation in Aberdeen I know that the fire service has described this as a short-term issue and has also confirmed, I think, very importantly, that there has been no situation where crews have not arrived as quickly as possible to incidents.

“The fire service, I understand, has met the Fire Brigades Union to discuss the issue in Aberdeen and following the meeting the north divisional organiser of the Fire Brigades Union said that he thought things were moving in the right direction.

“I hope the member will welcome that and all of us ... have a duty to support our firefighters as they do the vital work that they do."