This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Fire Services report
10/01/2003
The Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland
published his
Annual Report for 2001-2002 today.
The
report's key findings show that:
- Deaths from fire were below the 10 year average (84
this year against an average of 98.5 for the
period)
- Operational activity increased by 2.6 per cent with
brigades attending 3,090 more incidents than in the
previous year although this was due more to an 8.5%
rise in small fires.
- More women are joining the fire services. In
2001-2002, there were 271 female operational
firefighters working in Scottish fire brigades. This
figure has increased from 248 in 2000-2001 and 207 in
1999-2000.
- Action is being taken following the acts of terror
in America to improve the fire services' capability
still further.
- A joint review undertaken with HM Inspectorate of
Constabulary recommended more joint working between the
police and fire service to tackle fire raising.
- The important contribution made by rural and
retained firefighters was highlighted in a Scotland
wide study.
The
report highlights the activities and issues faced by
the fire service throughout Scotland. It does not refer to
the industrial action and pay dispute ongoing at the time
of publication, since they fall into the current year,
which is not the subject of the report.
The report examines the impact that terrorist attacks in
America on 11 September 2001 have had on fire services
internationally. Tribute is paid to the firefighters who
attended those incidents and who lost their lives trying to
help others. Details are given of the steps being taken in
Scotland, and the UK as a whole, to better prepare the fire
service for the possibility of a major incident and its
potential effect on population and infrastructure.
A statistical section is also included and this is used
to provide summaries of overall activity and staffing
levels.