Scotland reveals new fire safety plan

The SFRS Strategic Plan 2019-2022 sets out the Service’s proposed direction over the coming years, which includes delivering a world class and sustainable Service, enhancing partnership working and responding to new and emerging risks such as climate change.

Chief Officer Martin Blunden said: “This is a significant milestone for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“A huge amount of thought and effort has been invested into drawing up this plan for how we move forward into the future, to meet new challenges facing Scotland and emerging community risks flowing from population and climate change.

“We already have an outstanding track record in areas of prevention where we have seen the number of house fires continue to reduce over the decades, and we are actively looking at how we can continue to assist those most at risk – and partnership working is also key to that ambition.”

The objectives included in the Strategic Plan 2019-2022 were drawn from data and intelligence on the changing nature of risk within communities – and also the findings from a staff survey and public consultation into proposed Service transformation, both conducted in 2018.

It also follows the previous launch of a Draft Plan, which was first published in May and finalised after the completion of an associated public consultation.

The final Plan has now been approved by Community Safety Minister Ash Denham and laid before the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Blunden added: “I would like to thank our staff, members of the public and our partners who all contributed to our consultation, and I am delighted that over 80 per cent of respondents agreed to our proposals.

“This has been vital in helping us shape proposals into a comprehensive but flexible plan that meets the very precise needs of a modern Scotland, and it is hugely encouraging that our vision for the next three years has been so positively supported.”

Dr Kirsty Darwent, SFRS board chair, said: “This is a very exciting time for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as we embark upon an incredible journey to release our full potential to do so much more for our communities.

“It is imperative that we meet the changing risk profile in Scotland and ensure that our firefighters are trained and equipped to work safely and effectively.

“We also want to drive even greater partnership working where appropriate – all pulling together in the same direction to keep communities safer than ever.

“We pride ourselves on being an open and transparent organisation, and we are therefore delighted that our vision has received such positive backing.”

Read the SFRS Strategic Plan 2019-2022: /media/1476819/SFRS_Strategic_Plan_2019_22_V1.0.pdf