Fire services in Scotland
Encyclopedia
Fire services in Scotland are provided by Fire and Rescue Services each under the control of a Fire and Rescue Authority
(in Fife and in Dumfries and Galloway) or a joint fire board (elsewhere).
The board or authority exercises local control of each fire and rescue service on behalf of the council or group of councils within each service's area and from whom the members are drawn.
Since the establishment of a devolved Scottish government in 1999, national control is the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the Scottish Government, having previously lain with the Secretary of State for Scotland
(the relevant "Secretary of State" referred to in legislation applicable to Scotland) since the 19th century.
Fire Services have undergone dramatic changes in recent years, due to both a change to operational procedures in the light of terrorism attacks and threats, and also in response to the 2002 publication of a review of the fire services in the United Kingdom
by Professor Sir George Bain
. His terms of reference were described as follows: "Having regard to the changing and developing role of the Fire Service in the United Kingdom
, to inquire into and make recommendations on the future organisation and management of the Fire Service..." In the foreword to the review, Bain stated that it was carried out independently and objectively: "...the Review was put together with the co-operation of the
Government, the employers' organisations and fire authorities in England and Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland."
The Fire and Rescue Services are the workforces employed by the Fire and Rescue Authorities and Joint Boards.
Fire and Rescue Authority (Scotland)
A Fire and Rescue Authority is a body constituted under the Fire Act 2005 for the purposes of providing and managing fire-fighting and rescue services within a Council Area or group of such areas in Scotland.-Constitution:...
(in Fife and in Dumfries and Galloway) or a joint fire board (elsewhere).
The board or authority exercises local control of each fire and rescue service on behalf of the council or group of councils within each service's area and from whom the members are drawn.
Since the establishment of a devolved Scottish government in 1999, national control is the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the Scottish Government, having previously lain with the Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
(the relevant "Secretary of State" referred to in legislation applicable to Scotland) since the 19th century.
Fire Services have undergone dramatic changes in recent years, due to both a change to operational procedures in the light of terrorism attacks and threats, and also in response to the 2002 publication of a review of the fire services in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Professor Sir George Bain
George Bain (academic)
Sir George Sayers Bain, a Canadian by birth born in Winnipeg and attended Miles MacDonell Collegiate, was President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2004.- Biography :...
. His terms of reference were described as follows: "Having regard to the changing and developing role of the Fire Service in the United Kingdom
Fire service in the United Kingdom
The fire services in the United Kingdom operate under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
, to inquire into and make recommendations on the future organisation and management of the Fire Service..." In the foreword to the review, Bain stated that it was carried out independently and objectively: "...the Review was put together with the co-operation of the
Government, the employers' organisations and fire authorities in England and Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland."
Legislative history of fire services
- 1824: Establishment of municipal fire service in EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the first public fire brigade in the UK - 1885: Creation of Scottish OfficeScottish OfficeThe Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
transferring administrative (but not legislative) responsibility to Secretary of State for ScotlandSecretary of State for ScotlandThe Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
. - 1938: Fire Services Act 1938 combined the functions of 185 fire brigades and imposed fire-fighting duties upon local authorities,
- 1941: Fire brigades transferred to National Fire ServiceNational Fire ServiceThe National Fire Service was the single fire service created in Great Britain in 1941 during the Second World War; a separate National Fire Service was created in 1942....
(NFS) to form No.11 Region]. - 1947: Fire Services Act 1947Fire Services Act 1947-General Arrangement of the Act:-Scotland:The FRSA 2004 extended only to England and Wales, thus leaving the FSA 1947 in force in Scotland. Most of the 1947 Act was later repealed by the FSA 2005, which left ss...
returned fire brigades in Scotland to local authority control, mostly via joint boards. 11 brigades were created resembling somewhat the NFS areas. Section 36 of the Act dealt with its application to Scotland. Parts of the Act remain in force in Scotland. - 1959: Parts of the UK Fire Services Act 1959Fire Services Act 1959The Fire Services Act 1959 is an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament passed "to amend the Fire Services Act 1947, and make further provision as to the pensions of persons transferring to or from the fire service and as to members of fire brigades becoming temporary instructors in training...
remain in force in Scotland. - 1975: Fire Service Areas re-arranged from 1947 arrangements to match one or more areas of new local government Regions.
- 1996: Fire Service Area boards mostly recreated as joint boards consequent to local government re-organisation which abolished Regions and made new Council AreaCouncil AreaA Council Area is one of the areas defined in Schedule 1 of the Local Government etc. Act 1994 and is under the control of one of the local authorities in Scotland created by that Act.-Legislation :1889...
s responsible for fire services. - 1999: Scottish ParliamentScottish ParliamentThe Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
restored and responsibility for Fire Services transferred from Secretary of State for Scotland to the Scottish Government - 2005: The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005Fire (Scotland) Act 2005The Fire Act 2005 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament made to "make provision about fire and rescue authorities and joint fire and rescue boards; to restate and amend the law in relation to fire services; to make provision in relation to the functions of such authorities and boards in connection...
became the main primary legislation controlling the provision and maintenance of fire-fighting and fire-prevention services, replacing most of the remaining sections of the 1947 and 1959 Acts which dealt with such matters in Scotland.
Scottish brigades
The Scottish brigades are still broadly based on the system of local government regions in use from 1975 to 1996.The Fire and Rescue Services are the workforces employed by the Fire and Rescue Authorities and Joint Boards.
| Brigade | Council Areas (if different from brigade name) |
|---|---|
| Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the area of Central Scotland, Scotland.-History:Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service was formed in 1975 when control of fire services was passed from local authorities to the new Central Region Council... |
Clackmannanshire Clackmannanshire Clackmannanshire, often abbreviated to Clacks is a local government council area in Scotland, and a lieutenancy area, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife.As Scotland's smallest historic county, it is often nicknamed 'The Wee County'.... , Falkirk Falkirk (council area) Falkirk is one of the 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland. It borders onto North Lanarkshire to the south west, Stirling to the north west, West Lothian to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth to the north east, Fife and Clackmannanshire... , Stirling Stirling (council area) Stirling is one of the 32 unitary local government council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about 87,000 . It was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994 with the boundaries of the Stirling district of the former Central local government region, and it covers most of the former... |
| Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue sercvice for the area of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.-Statistics:... (DG postcode area) |
|
| Fife Fire and Rescue Service Fife Fire and Rescue Service Fife Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the area of Fife, Scotland.-History:Fife Fire and Rescue Service was formed in 1985 from Fife Fire Brigade, however its creation was a result of the Fire Services Act 1947. The service operates as a whole and is not divided... |
|
| Grampian Fire and Rescue Service Grampian Fire and Rescue Service Grampian Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the area of Grampian, Scotland. The service provides emergency cover for residential areas, as well as providing it for a local Industrial harbour, oil and gas terminals and a commonly used heliport.-FRS area:Grampian... |
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray Moray Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :... |
| Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service The Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for northern Scotland, covering the council areas of Highland, Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles, and so covering a major part of the Highlands and Islands area... |
Highland Highland (council area) Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and... , Orkney, Shetland, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) |
| Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service is a Local Authority fire and rescue service covering an area of of south east Scotland, and serving a total population of 890,000.... |
East Lothian East Lothian East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh.... , Edinburgh, Midlothian Midlothian Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas.... , Scottish Borders, West Lothian West Lothian West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire.... |
| Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Strathclyde Fire and Rescue is the statutory fire and rescue service for the area of Strathclyde, Scotland. It is the largest fire and rescue service in Scotland, and one of the largest in Europe... |
Argyll and Bute Argyll and Bute Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council... , East Ayrshire East Ayrshire East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway... , East Dunbartonshire East Dunbartonshire This article is about the East Dunbartonshire council area of Scotland. See also East Dunbartonshire .East Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders onto the north-west of the City of Glasgow. It contains many of the suburbs of Glasgow as well as containing many of... , East Renfrewshire East Renfrewshire East Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. Until 1975 it formed part of the county of Renfrewshire for local government purposes along with the modern council areas of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde... , Glasgow, Inverclyde Inverclyde Inverclyde is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county of Renfrewshire - which current exists as a registration county and lieutenancy area - located in the west... , North Ayrshire North Ayrshire North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South... , North Lanarkshire North Lanarkshire North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire... , Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east... , South Ayrshire South Ayrshire South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.... , South Lanarkshire South Lanarkshire South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages.... , West Dunbartonshire West Dunbartonshire West Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland. Bordering onto the west of the City of Glasgow, containing many of Glasgow's commuter towns and villages as well as the city's suburbs, West Dunbartonshire also borders onto Argyll and Bute, Stirling, East... |
| Tayside Fire and Rescue Service Tayside Fire and Rescue Service Tayside Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the area of Tayside and covering a geographical area of 7,500 square kilometres. The FRS has a total of 50 fire appliances based at a total of 24 fire stations. The service currently recruits 721 operational Firefighters... |
Angus Angus Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City... , Dundee, Perth and Kinross Perth and Kinross Perth and Kinross is one of 32 council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. It borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, Fife, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Argyll and Bute and Highland council areas. Perth is the administrative centre... |
- See also Fire Master for more information about chief fire officers in Scotland
Her Majesty's Fire Inspectorate for Scotland
In Scotland Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland (commonly known by the shortened and nationally-unqualified form "HMFSI") exists to inspect all fire Services in Scotland to ascertain how they are discharging their functions under relevant legislation http://www.grampianfrs.org.uk/subdreamer/index.php?categoryid=64. It functions as an autonomous body under the charge of the Justice Ministry of the Scottish GovernmentOther fire and rescue services
Other specialised fire and rescue services are operated in Scotland, for example at airports and military establishments.See also
- Portal:fire
- UK Firefighter dispute 2002/2003UK Firefighter dispute 2002/2003The 2002-2003 UK firefighter dispute began when the UK firefighters union, the Fire Brigades Union , voted to take strike action in an attempt to secure a better salary...
- Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for ScotlandHer Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for ScotlandHer Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland or HM Fire Service Inspectorate is an autonomous agency of the Scottish Government - based in St Andrew's House, Edinburgh, its function is to: "improve the efficiency, effectiveness and standards of the fire and rescue services in Scotland", it...
- List of Scotland-related topics
- Fire and Rescue Authority (Scotland)Fire and Rescue Authority (Scotland)A Fire and Rescue Authority is a body constituted under the Fire Act 2005 for the purposes of providing and managing fire-fighting and rescue services within a Council Area or group of such areas in Scotland.-Constitution:...