By Jane Candlish
The Aberdeen Press and Journal
ABERDEEN, Scotland — The Scottish Government has ordered a fresh investigation of the north’s troubled fire service.
Community Safety Minister Roseanna Cunningham called yesterday for the new probe to assess what progress the brigade had made in tackling serious flaws in the way it was run.
It was criticised for poor management and wasting public money on stations with low call-out rates in a scathing Accounts Commission report.
The powerful watchdog also highlighted serious problems with the training of retained firefighters in remote locations.
Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service’s board was also accused of postponing difficult decisions on station closures.
Ms Cunningham now wants Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Authorities, Steven Torrie, to examine how much progress the north brigade has made since the Accounts Commission’s best-value report was published in March.
The minister said yesterday: “I know every firefighter working for the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service is committed to doing the best job they can to protect people across the region.
“Day in, day out, their work saves lives and keeps communities safe.
“It is absolutely vital that proper structures are in place to maintain that safety.
“The best-value report set out serious concerns across areas including staff training and risk management, which I know the Highlands and Islands Fire Board have been addressing through a service-improvement plan, with the help of colleagues from other services.
“Independent assessment of that progress, and any remaining priorities for action, will benefit all ahead of the launch of the single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service next year.”
Last night, fire board convener Andrew Drever welcomed the fresh review and insisted the service was making progress.
“We are on the road to addressing the concerns raised by Audit Scotland and we are up for the review,” he said.
Since the report’s publication, HIFRS has brought in a new training programme. The service ran 99 courses between February and August covering fire behaviour, breathing apparatus and road accidents. The training sessions involved nearly 690 firefighters.
And last month, the board agreed to shut three stations and a wildfire unit after they were assessed as “unsustainable”.
Highlands and Islands MSP Mary Scanlon, who has been a critic of the service, said it was right that HIFRS’s progress should be scrutinised.
She said: “It is critical that the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service is brought up to the quality standards of all the service across Scotland prior to the forming of the single service next year.
“I would also like the chief inspector to ensure that firefighters have a voice in the future of the service.
“Calls from frontline firefighters and the Fire Brigades Union were ignored over the years when they highlighted issues relating to poor leadership, lack of training and support and significant health-and-safety issues for the workforce.
“All the issues raised in the critical Audit Commission report were made known to the previous Highlands and Islands Fire Board and ignored.
“I acknowledge that progress is being made. However, this services needs to listen to and value the contribution made by the men and women in the front line before full progress will be complete, and morale restored.”
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