Fire Brigade Scotland Photos

New image added to Highlands & Islands Section

V558JST

n the 16th May 1975, as a result of Local Government reorganisation, the Northern Area Fire Brigade along with seven stations from the Western Area Fire Brigade and two stations from the North Eastern Fire Brigade joined together to form the Northern Fire Brigade .This brigade provided fire cover to the Highland Region, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and the Western Isles. In February 1983 to better reflect the area covered by the brigade the name was changed to the Highland and Islands Fire Brigade. The brigade covers an area of 12,000 sq miles which makes it the largest in Europe.
The Brigade is divided up into three Divisions, which are further divided to make a total of ten Districts. Since Local Government re-organisation on 16th May 1996 the function of the Brigade has been overseen by the Highland and Islands Fire Board which is made up of sixteen Councillors from the Highland Council, four Councillors from the Western Isles, two Councillors from the Orkney Islands and two Councillors from the Shetland Islands.
The Brigade has a policy of upgrading the Auxiliary Units to Breathing Apparatus status and is currently upgrading ten Units per year.

Area Covered 12,000 Square Miles             Population 280,000

The brigade consists of:-
1 Wholetime and retained station
2 three pump retained stations
11 two pump retained stations
20 one pump retained stations
59 mobile Auxiliary Units
34 non mobile Auxiliary Units

The establishment at the various types of units are:-

There are 4 types of Auxiliary Unit:- Ultra Light Fire Appliance, Light Fire Appliance, Light Fire Appliance with BA, Midi Fire Appliance with BA.

Manning:-

46 Water Tender Ladders
4 Midi Water Tenders
42 Light Fire Appliances
6 Ultra Light Fire Appliances
1 Aerial Ladder Platform
1 Control Unit
1 Emergency Tender
1 Water Carrier
1 Foam Unit

The management Team consists of :-

1 Firemaster
1 Deputy Firemaster
1 Third Officer (Divisional Officer I)
3 Divisional Commanders (Divisional Officer II)
1 Senior Fire Safety Officer (Divisional Officer II)
1 Brigade Training Officer (Divisional Officer II)

The Personnel at 1999/2000 consisted of :-

150 Wholetime Firefighters
558 Retained Firefighters
882 Auxiliary Firefighters
49 Civilian Staff