Moray-wide drive to attract more firefighters

MORAY’S fire chiefs have set alarm bells ringing over staff shortages across the area.

A recruitment drive is underway after station managers Davie Pattinson and Kevin Lackie raised concerns over dwindling levels of retained crew, especially during normal working hours.

The fall in part-time staff has been attributed to changes in working patterns, with fewer people employed in the local area where they are within the necessary response time when an emergency call comes in.

“The period causing most concern is during normal working hours,” said Mr Pattinson. “The Fire Service will still provide a response. However, without the support of local people, this response may take longer. We are now reaching out to local businesses and all parts of the local community in a bid to recruit more firefighters in the Moray area.”

Retained crew members must be over 18 and there is no maximum age limit, although a reasonable level of fitness is required. Firefighters must be able to respond to the Fire Station within five to seven minutes of being alerted.

Visit www.grampianfrs.org.uk for more information, or contact the service’s recruitment administrator, Donna Cocker, on 01224 788686.

In next week’s ‘Scot’, local retained crew share their experiences of being part of the service, and urge others to join them.