Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issues buildings warning

Helensburgh’s fire station will need £7 million to be rebuilt, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered in its roof last year – while rebuilding 13 other fire stations across Scotland which also have RAAC panels will cost a further £70m.

Temporary roof supports are being used to prop up all the 14 stations with RAAC panelling, including Helensburgh.

The SFRS launched a ‘strategic service review’ on April 30 asking members of the public to have their say on what the service should look like in the future.

As well as asking for the public’s views on service priorities, the public survey is seeking opinions on moving or merging stations in similar geographic locations, or moving in with other public services such as the police, ambulance service or local councils.

Rebuilding Helensburgh's fire station after RAAC panelling was discovered in its roof will cost an estimated £7 million. (Image: Google Street View)

While Helensburgh is the only station in the local area with RAAC panelling, concerns have also been raised about the condition and suitability of the stations in Cove, Garelochhead and Arrochar.

Almost half of all the country’s fire stations have been deemed to be in “poor” or “bad” condition, and 75 per cent of all SFRS buildings are “unsuitable”.

The SFRS said last year that rebuilding would be the best option for the 14 fire stations with RAAC panels – but said it did not have the money to do the work.

The Scottish Government gave SFRS an extra £10m in its capital budget for 2024-25, but the service says it still needs more - and that £77m will be needed to rebuild stations affected by RAAC.

Deputy assistant chief officer Stephen Wright, SFRS head of service delivery for the west of Scotland, said: “Some of our ageing buildings are no longer fit for purpose and require urgent action.  

“We have a significant number of fire stations without provisions such as dedicated locker rooms, dignified facilities or sufficient showering facilities.  

Garelochhead's fire station was deemed to be in a 'satisfactory' condition in an SFRS survey last year, but its suitability for firefighting was described as 'poor'. (Image: Google Street View)

“Our buildings need to be safe, provide welfare facilities and comply with guidelines around decontamination after incidents to help protect our firefighters’ health.  

“While we welcome the uplift in our capital budget, we do not have the budget to address this and doing nothing is simply not an option. We must find a permanent solution.  

“By moving or merging stations in similar geographical locations, for example, we could address some of these welfare concerns while ensuring that we are best placed to meet the changing community risk across Scotland.”  

Mr Wright also says the fire service must change to address the effects of climate change, including the increased risks of wildfire and flooding.

“We have prioritised investment and bolstered our fleet in recent years with the addition of 20 specialist water rescue boats and the implementation of 25 dedicated wildfire stations across Scotland,” he continued.  

Cove's fire station, opened in 2001, was rated last year as in 'satisfactory' condition, but its suitability for firefighting was 'poor' (Image: Google Street View)

“But we expect climate change to intensify and present further challenges that we must be prepared to meet.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Despite deeply challenging financial circumstances due to the UK Government settlement, the Scottish Government is providing £393.3 million in funding for the SFRS in 2024 – an increase of £29.3 million from the previous year.

“This will enable SFRS to continue to deliver the high standard of services required to keep our communities safe.

“The increase from £32.7m to £43m in capital funding will allow the service to invest more in property, fleet and equipment.”

The public consultation does not include specific proposals for relocating fire stations in Helensburgh and Lomond, or anywhere else in Scotland.

Arrochar fire station was described as being in a 'satisfactory' condition by the SFRS in a survey last year, but its suitability for firefighting was rated 'poor' (Image: Google Street View)

However, an internal survey by SFRS of its property estate, carried out last year, found that 220 fire stations across Scotland were in poor or bad condition.

More than 150 have no shower facilities, and more than 100 lack drying facilities, while 11 have no water supply.

Though the suitability of Helensburgh for fire fighting was described in last year's survey as good, its condition was assessed as bad.

The condition of Cove was given as satisfactory, but it was rated poor for suitability.

Both Arrochar and Garelochhead were marked as satisfactory, but their suitability for fire fighting was described as poor.

The report found that one in four stations across Scotland did not have shower facilities for female firefighters.

However Helensburgh, Cove, Arrochar and Garelochead all had them in place.

The report also found that 40 per cent of Scottish fire stations are 50 years old or more, with Helensburgh having opened in 1975, Arrochar in 1981, Garelochead in 1985, and Cove in 2001.

It further highlighted the fact that most fire stations in Scotland do not operate gender neutral facilities. However, Arrochar does have a gender neutral toilet.

Of the four stations only Helensburgh is operated full time, with the other three being served by on-call staff.

The 'Shaping Our Future Service' survey runs until June 30 and can be completed online at tinyurl.com/SFRSfuturesurvey.