Fire chiefs looking to boost number of firefighters in Badenoch and Strathspey
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Fire chiefs are hoping to boost the number of retaining firefighters based in Badenoch and Strathspey which are currently below strength.
A recruitment drive has just been launched by the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service to increase personnel based at the stations in Aviemore and Grantown.
New Group Commander Bruce Milne updated local Highland councillors on the situation at their latest area committee meeting held online.
He pointed out 'slight pinch-points' for two of the strath's three fire stations.
The latest brigade figures reveal that there are nine staff members in Aviemore and their availability for call-outs was on average 66 per cent for the single fire engine.
Ten retained firefighters is the allotted number.
In Grantown, the average turn-out figure is much higher for the first appliance amongst the 14 staff at 95 per cent but it was only 31 per cent for the town's second fire engine.
Mr Milne, who took up his role for the central Highlands region in January having previously been in charge of the Moray region, said: "I know that having looked at the figure for this month that there has been a marked improvement for the second appliance in Grantown."
But he said that the continuing changes in working patterns brought difficulties which the fire service was responding to.
He said: "As with all retained stations, people's circumstances are changing and employment is changing. The days of picking up a job and remaining in a village or town and being available all of the time is changing.
"People have to commute and travel. We are taking recognition of this and can take people on on a different contract and different availability systems.
"We are keen to recruit in Aviemore and Grantown.
"I'd be keen to get numbers up to 20 in Grantown if I can. There is scope for taking more staff on and we are keen to do that."
More recently contracts have been introduced where retained firefighters commit to being available for 90 hours per week rather than 120 hours per week.
Kingussie fire station has 11 staff with a 95 per cent availability on average for call-outs.
The latest local fire and rescue service performance report shows that accidental house fires remain low in the strath despite the increase of such incidents across Scotland during the Covid lockdown restrictions.
Mr Milne's report stated: "The consequence of Covid lockdown restrictions has seen an increased level of accidental dwelling fires across Scotland with increased activity in homes and links to consumption of alcohol being investigated nationally.
"The fact that this trend is not reflected in Badenoch and Strathspey is welcomed by SFRS.
"Fire fatalities and fire casualties remain at zero in the area in this reporting period. Deliberate fires are consistent with previous years and remain at a very low level."
False alarm call-outs also show a continued fall in the strath compared to previous years. Part of this was due to businesses being closed due to the Covid pandemic.
Mr Milne added: "Where improvement cannot be demonstrated, SFRS enforcement teams will liaise with premises holders to improve building management and reduce unwanted fire
alarms."
Highland councillors praised Mr Milne at the end of the discussion for providing such a comprehensive local performance report.
