Why Princes Street fire highlights the dangers of SNP's swingeing cuts to firefighter numbers
Fire Brigades Union warns that the service ‘can’t face any more cuts’ as crews from a station saved from closure by a local campaign help bring major Edinburgh fire under control
After fire ripped through a historic building in central Edinburgh – described as a striking example of French Renaissance Revival architecture – city council leader Jane Meagher paid tribute to the firefighters involved, saying: “I'm relieved to hear that nobody has been hurt and grateful for the swift response of the emergency services, who prevented this devastating fire becoming far worse.”
However, things might have turned out very differently if a local campaign to save the nearby Marionville fire station from closure had not been successful, with its crews were involved in bringing the blaze at the old Debenhams building on Princes Street under control.
Gus Sproul, the Fire Brigades Union’s Scottish chair, said: “It shows that we need an appropriate weight of response to deal with these fires effectively and if we see further cuts to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, we’ll not be able to do that.
“We’ve seen 1,250 firefighter jobs go in the last 13 years... The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service [SFRS] can’t face any more cuts and we need a sustained package of funding from the Scottish Government.”
READ MORE: Fire crews set to remain on Princes Street for 'quite a considerable time' according to fire chief
Lives at stake
Underlining the obvious dangers of such incidents, he pointed to the death of firefighter Barry Martin, who was fatally injured in the Jenners building fire on the same street in 2023.
Clearly, the longer it takes for fire crews to reach the scene and the fewer firefighters and equipment there are, the greater the chances of a fire spreading and becoming more dangerous, both to emergency service personnel and local people. Lives are at stake.
READ MORE: Princes Street fire: Structural engineers say top floors of former Debenhams store must come down
Following this year’s Scottish Budget, the SFRS warned that a £6 million funding gap could mean it will have to cut a further 500 firefighters jobs over the next three years. The Budget also failed to deliver the funding sought by Police Scotland, with the Conservatives describing the settlements as a “hammer blow”.
It should not need to be said but the fire, police and ambulance services are full of brave, dedicated people who save lives on a regular basis. However, in the SNP’s Scotland, such reminders are, unfortunately, absolutely vital.
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