Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat fire: John Swinney says wildfire risks must be factor in controversial fire service shake-up
Warnings over response times as Edinburgh fire station faces closure
First Minister John Swinney has warned fire chiefs they must consider the growing risk of wildfires, such as the recent blaze on Arthur's Seat, before pressing ahead with planned station closures.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is due to decide later this month on proposals which include closing Edinburgh's Marionville fire station - the closest to Arthur's Seat - and transferring its fire engine to Newcraighall, which would become a two-appliance station. Musselburgh fire station would also close, with its fire engine moved to a relocated Tranent fire station.
New Edinburgh and Lothians East Labour MSP Katherine Sangster raised the growing risk of wildfires, the Arthur's Seat fire and proposed station closures during general questions in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.
She said: "The proposed changes are expected to push average local response times from the current four to six minutes to six to eight minutes. Given the present risk of wildfires, can the public be sure that they are being made safe by such decisions?"
Justice Secretary Neil Gray insisted they could and said SFRS funding had been increased in the last budget.
He continued: "The operational decisions on the deployment of those resources are for the SFRS to take. We will work with it to ensure that decisions on infrastructure across Scotland are taken in a proportionate way that ensures that the continued safety of residents is paramount.
"We also need to be cognisant of the fact that, with increased wildfires and reduced levels of house fires, the service is responding to the changing dynamic in the right locations and with the necessary resources. That is exactly what I expect the SFRS to do."
But Mr Swinney returned to the Arthur's Seat fire later, when answering another question on the fire service review from Labour's Pauline McNeill during First Minister’s Questions.
He said: "Earlier, Katherine Sangster asked about the fire on Arthur’s Seat, which is a local example of the changing nature of the fire risk that we are having to deal with.
“The SFRS has to make an assessment based on that risk and the resources that the Government is making available.
"There are statutory obligations on the Fire and Rescue Service in relation to the exercise of its powers, but parliament can consider issues that arise from the decisions that are taken by the service.
"I commit the Government to engaging constructively with members of parliament on the issue, because I recognise the concerns that will exist in all parts of the chamber about ensuring that the Fire and Rescue Service comes to the right conclusions in the important exercise that is under way."
Just a few days ago, David Strachan, Fire Brigades Union rep at the threatened Marionville fire station, spoke of the importance of its closeness to Arthur’s Seat and the local knowledge of the crew in helping them tackle the recent fire, which started near St Anthony’s Chapel and burned through the night.