Fire service staff levels hit record lows

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has today marked 999 Day by urging the SNP Government to act now to tackle the steady decline in firefighters, after it was revealed that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have lost more than 1,000 staff over the last decade.

Figures published by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) reveal that the number of wholetime operational staff (full-time firefighters) has dropped from 4,159 in 2011/12 to 3,422 in 2023/24.    

The figures also show that the number of retained duty staff (on call firefighters) has dropped from 3,052 in 2011/12 to 2,708 in 2023/24.

The number of control staff, support staff and volunteers have all also declined.

Both sets of figures represent the lowest levels of staff on record.  

Mr McArthur said:     

“On 999 Day, it is important to recognise the important contribution that firefighters, and other emergency service workers make. 

“Firefighters do a difficult and dangerous job in order to keep the rest of us out of harm’s way and new challenges are coming along all the time. These are burdens now falling on fewer and fewer firefighters and staff.

"This is yet another public service being cut to the bone by this SNP Government.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see the government invest in our fire service. That means properly resourcing and equipping the service so that it can tackle the challenges it faces day-in, day-out.”