Dunfermline Fire Station to get new height appliance

The city's station commander, Craig Robertson, said that the main difference will be the replacement of an "obsolete" vehicle they can't get parts for with a brand new height appliance for the station at Pitreavie.

He added that staff changes "shouldn't be that big a problem" for Dunfermline which will be better off compared to Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and Methil, who are set to lose more under the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service cost-cutting.

Asked about the controversial changes and what they'll mean, Mr Robertson told the city's area committee: "Obviously we're under huge financial restraint and there's been a national piece of work that will impact on Dunfermline.

"When Rosyth and Dunfermline stations amalgamated the service bought a combined aerial rescue platform – basically a pump and a high reach all in one.

"It was usually staffed with five personnel but in the last number of years we've been unable to do that and it's been staffed with a crew of two.

"It's given us a high reach capability but very seldom was it used as a third pump for Dunfermline.

"We're losing that capability but it's being replaced by a designated high reach appliance.

Dunfermline Fire Station will lose an obsolete appliance and gain a brand new height appliance, which could be mobilised anywhere in the country. (Image: Newsquest)

"It will be very similar to what Dunfermline used to have when we were in the city centre, but it will be a national asset.

"What that model looks like yet, we don't know, that's work that's ongoing."

He added: "It will probably benefit Dunfermline as we haven't been able to staff that combined aerial rescue platform and the other spanner in the works, quite literally, is the company that supplied that appliance have gone into administration so we can't get the parts."

Last week a firefighter from the city warned that West Fife would be "less safe" as a result of the cost-cutting.

And he said locals faced longer waits for crews to attend fires and road crashes due to the loss of an appliance and three fewer firefighters on each shift.

Fife Council have also called for a re-think on the changes.

Mr Robertson, who became station commander in February,  said the news about the height appliance was "hot off the press" and added: "I know we're talking Dunfermline here but, throughout Fife, Kirkcaldy are going to lose their height appliance as it was decided it wasn't really being utilised there.

"Methil is losing a fire appliance, as is Glenrothes, so it's going to have a big impact on Fife.

"For Dunfermline though, we're actually in not too bad a position, we're keeping our height capability and hopefully it'll be a brand new appliance.

"The combined aerial rescue platform was very, very seldom used because we couldn't staff it, it's out of lease, it's obsolete, we can't get parts for it and it was more off the run than on.

"Basically it wasn't being used.

"Dunfermline will still have its height capability, it will be based here but it will be a nationwide asset and could be mobilised anywhere in the country."