Inspection of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service West Service Delivery Area

14. The WSDA protects a population of circa 2.5 million and covers an area of 20,050 km². WSDA staff are based predominantly at 127 Fire Stations. During the course of the inspection fieldwork, HMFSI attended 67 (53%) of these Stations and interviewed 69 (50%) separate crews resulting in an approximate sample of 23% of shifts. We also interviewed two Operations Control (OC) shifts representing around 40% of OC shifts as well as proportions of OC management and functional staff.

15. As of 31 March 2023, there were 2,465 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) SFRS service delivery personnel based in the WSDA, of those, 2,408 were uniformed staff. The various operational duty systems include Wholetime, Retained On-Call, Volunteer On-Call, Day Shift Duty Staffing and Flexi Duty. There are also a number of support staff duty systems employed, which vary according to the needs of the Functional role.

• The WSDA serves a population of 2.5 million people.
• based across a wide ranging geography of some 20,050 square kilometres.
• West area crews are based at 127 fire stations.
• As at 31 March 2023 2,464 SFRS service delivery personnel* were based in the West, of those, 2,408 are uniformed staff.

* Total Full Time Equivalent provided by LSO Area by SFRS. There may be a slight variance in total numbers due to rounding.

16. The SDA is made up of thirteen local authority areas; the City of Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway, South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute.

17. There are six Area Commanders who are designated, under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (FSA), as LSOs (Local Senior Officers). These LSOs lead the management of the SFRS’s local activities in the WSDA. They each have responsibility for service delivery in allocated local authority areas. Details of the LSO areas are:

18. The DACO and their support officer accounts for the remainder of staff.

A map of Scotland detailing the Local Authority boundaries with those in the WSDA specifically highlighted.

East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute (EWDAB) LSO Area

East Dunbartonshire

19. East Dunbartonshire covers 175 km² and has a population circa 109,000 people. There are approximately 71 FTE employees mostly based at three Fire Stations. All three stations are Wholetime and are located at Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch and Milngavie. The area has three pumping appliances and two specialist appliance (Detection, Identification and Monitoring (DIM) vehicle and a Command Support Unit (CSU)). A Special Operations Response Unit (SORU), which was reassigned from City of Glasgow is currently doubling as a CSU, whilst new appliance capital spend is ongoing.

West Dunbartonshire

20. West Dunbartonshire covers 159 km² and has a population circa 88,000 people. There are approximately 108 FTE employees mostly based within three fire stations. Clydebank is staffed by Wholetime personnel, Dumbarton by a mixture of Wholetime and On-Call Retained personnel and Balloch solely by On-Call Retained staff. Some of the Staff are also based at the Area Headquarters in Clydebank. The area has five pumping appliances, one of which is a Combined Aerial Rescue Pump (CARP), and an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)/Heavy Rescue Unit (HRU). Following the implementation of the HRA Strategy in September 2023 the CARP was removed and replaced by a dedicated pumping appliance.

Argyll and Bute

21. Argyll and Bute covers 6,909 km² and has a population circa 86,000 people. There are approximately 396 FTE employees mostly based within 39 Fire Stations. Helensburgh and Oban are staffed by a mixture of Wholetime and On-Call Retained personnel. Arrochar, Bowmore, Campbeltown, Cove, Dunoon, Garelochhead, Inveraray, Lochgilphead, Rothesay, Tarbert, Tighnabruaich and Tobermory are solely staffed by On-Call Retained staff, whilst Appin, Ardfern, Bridge of Orchy, Bunessan, Carradale, Colintraive, Coll, Craignure, Colonsay, Dalmally, Gigha, Iona, Jura, Kerrera, Kilmelford, Lismore, Lochgoilhead, Luing, Minard, Port Charlotte, Port Ellen, Salen, Seil, Strachur and Tiree are solely staffed by On-Call Volunteers. The area has 42 pumping appliances and three Volunteer Support Units. There is also a dedicated Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) and Swift Water Rescue Team (SRT) Unit based at Oban. Following the implementation of the HRA Strategy in September 2023 the dedicated ALP was removed from the Area and a Combined Aerial Recue Pump (CARP) replaced it, increasing the number of pumping appliances to 43.

East, North and South Ayrshire (ENSA) LSO Area

East Ayrshire

22. East Ayrshire covers 1,262 km² and has a population circa 122,000 people. There are approximately 103 FTE employees mostly based within eight Fire Stations. Kilmarnock is staffed by Wholetime personnel whilst, Cumnock, Dalmellington, Mauchline, Muirkirk, New Cumnock, Newmilns and Stewarton solely by On-Call Retained staff. The area has 10 pumping appliances, one of which is a CARP. It also has a dedicated Major Incident Unit (MIU) for USAR.

North Ayrshire

23. North Ayrshire covers 885 km² and has a population circa 134,000 people. There are approximately 227 FTE employees mostly based within 14 Fire Stations. Kilwinning is staffed by Wholetime personnel whilst Ardrossan and Dreghorn are staffed by a mixture of Wholetime and On-Call Retained personnel. Beith, Brodick, Dalry, Kilbirnie, Lamlash, Largs, Millport and Skelmorlie are solely staffed by On-Call Retained staff, whilst Blackwaterfoot, Corriecravie and Lochranza are solely staffed by On-Call Volunteers. Some of the Staff are also based at the Area Headquarters in Ardrossan. The area has 17 pumping appliances, two of which are Rapid Response Units (RRU). It also has one Wildfire Unit and a CSU.

South Ayrshire

24. South Ayrshire covers 1,222 km² and has a population circa 112,000 people. There are approximately 74 FTE employees mostly based within five Fire Stations. Ayr is staffed by a mixture of Wholetime and On-Call Retained personnel and Colmonell, Girvan, Maybole and Troon solely by On-Call Retained staff. The area has 8 pumping appliances, one of which is a CARP and one other which is an RRU. It also has a dedicated specialist appliance for swift water rescue (SRT). Following the implementation of the HRA Strategy in September 2023 the CARP was removed from the Area and a dedicated pumping appliance replaced it.

Dumfries and Galloway (D&G) LSO Area

Dumfries and Galloway

25. Dumfries and Galloway covers 6,426 km² and has a population circa 149,000 people. There are approximately 249 FTE employees mostly based within seventeen Fire Stations, ten of which are Flood Response trained. Dumfries is staffed by a mixture of Wholetime and On-Call Retained personnel. Annan, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Gatehouse of Fleet, Gretna, Kirkcudbright, Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat, New Galloway, Newton Stewart, Sanquhar, Stranraer, Thornhill and Whithorn are solely staffed by On-Call Retained staff, whilst Drummore is solely staffed by On-Call Volunteers. Some of the staff are also based at the Area Headquarters in Dumfries. The area has 22 pumping appliances, one of which is a CARP and two others which are RRUs. It also has dedicated specialist appliances for SRT (2 units), Wildfire (2 units), Welfare and Heavy Rescue.

North and South Lanarkshire (LAN) LSO Area

North Lanarkshire

26. North Lanarkshire covers 470 km² and has a population circa 322,000 people. There are approximately 246 FTE employees mostly based within seven Fire Stations. Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld and Motherwell are staffed by Wholetime personnel and Kilsyth, Shotts and Stepps solely by On-Call Retained staff. Some of the staff are also based at the Area Headquarters in Motherwell. The area has 10 Pumping appliances, two of which were CARPs. It also has a dedicated CSU, SRT Unit and a Prime Mover vehicle and its associated USAR equipment. Following the implementation of the HRA Strategy in September 2023 a CARP was removed from the Area and a dedicated pumping appliance replaced it.

South Lanarkshire

27. South Lanarkshire covers 1,772 km² and has a population circa 134,000 people. There are approximately 196 FTE employees mostly based within twelve Fire Stations. Clydesmill, East Kilbride and Hamilton are staffed by Wholetime personnel whilst Lanark is staffed by a mixture of Wholetime and On-Call Retained personnel. Abington, Biggar, Carluke, Douglas, Larkhall, Lesmahagow and Strathaven are solely staffed by On-Call Retained staff, whilst Leadhills was solely staffed by On-Call volunteers. (As previously stated Leadhills closed during the inspection). The area has 14 Pumping appliances, one of which was a CARP. It also has a dedicated Rope Rescue (RR) vehicle, SRT Unit and Prime Mover vehicles for High Volume Pumping (HVP) and Hazardous Material (HazMat). Following the implementation of the HRA Strategy in September 2023 a CARP was removed from the Area and a dedicated pumping appliance replaced it. In addition, following the implementation of the SSRP in September 2023 a 2nd Pumping Appliance was temporarily removed from Hamilton Fire Station reducing the number to 13.

East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde (ERRI) LSO Area

East Renfrewshire

28. East Renfrewshire covers 174 km² and has a population circa 97,000 people. There are approximately 47 FTE employees mostly based within two Fire Stations, one of which is trained in Flood Response. Both stations are Wholetime and located at Clarkston and Barrhead. The area has two pumping appliances.

Renfrewshire

29. Renfrewshire covers 261 km² and has a population circa 180,000 people. There are approximately 133 FTE employees mostly based within three Fire Stations, one of which is Flood Response trained. Paisely and Renfrew are staffed by Wholetime personnel and Johnstone by a mixture of Wholetime and On-Call Retained personnel. The area has five Pumping appliances, one of which is a CARP. It also has a dedicated Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) and a Prime Mover vehicle and its associated Operational Support Pods. Some of the Staff are also based at the Area Headquarters in Johnstone. Following the implementation of the HRA Strategy in September 2023 the CARP was removed from the Area and a dedicated pumping appliance replaced it. The West Operations Control (OC) is also situated at Johnstone in a bespoke Control facility and is staffed by Wholetime personnel.

Inverclyde

30. Inverclyde covers 160 km² and has a population circa 78,000 people. There are approximately 96 FTE employees mostly based within three Fire Stations, two of which are Flood Response trained. Greenock and Port Glasgow are staffed by a mixture of Wholetime and On-Call Retained personnel, whilst Gourock solely by On-Call Retained staff. The area has seven Pumping appliances, one of which is a CARP and another which is an RRU. Following the implementation of the SSRP in September 2023 a 2nd Pumping Appliance was temporarily removed from Greenock Fire Station reducing the number to six.

City of Glasgow (CoG) LSO Area

City of Glasgow

31. City of Glasgow covers 175 km² and has a population circa 635,000 people. There are approximately 518 FTE employees mostly based within eleven Fire Stations. All stations are Wholetime crewed and located at Calton, Castlemilk, Cowcaddens, Easterhouse, Govan, Knightswood, Maryhill, Pollok, Polmadie, Springburn and Yorkhill. Some of the Staff are also based at the Area Headquarters in Cowcaddens. The area has 19 Pumping appliances, one of which is a CARP. It also has two dedicated SRT Units, two Prime Mover vehicles for Mass Decontamination (MD), one HRU, two dedicated HRA and one SORU. There is also a rescue boat provided at Polmadie Fire Station and at Knightswood fire station for River Clyde water incidents.

32. Following the implementation of the HRA Strategy in September 2023 a CARP was removed from the Area and a dedicated pumping appliance replaced it. Following the implementation of the SSRP in September 2023 three 2nd Pumping Appliances were temporarily removed from Maryhill, Cowcaddens and Govan Fire Stations reducing the number to 16. Following the standardisation of Water Rescue provision on the River Clyde in September 2023, the dedicated rescue boat provision at Polmadie was altered to a dual staffing model. Lastly, the SORU was moved to East Dunbartonshire to dual purpose as a CSU.