Final call to help shape the future of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is appealing to the people of Scotland for their views on the future direction of the services it provides to make the country an even safer place to live, work and visit.

Chief Officer Martin Blunden is urging the public and stakeholders to take part in the consultation ‘SFRS – Long-Term Vision’ – which closes on Sunday, 18 July – and help influence the way it evolves over the next ten years.

The consultation vision document explains four key principles the SFRS wants to focus on over the next decade along with eight priorities it wants to achieve.

The consultation comes against a backdrop of a steady decline in household fires since the SFRS was formed almost ten years ago. During the same period the country has witnessed an increase in weather-related events such as wildfires and severe flooding, both of which are linked to climate change. One of the proposed priorities in the consultation is achieving Carbon Zero status to reduce the impact on the communities the SFRS serves.

Chief Officer Blunden explained why the consultation was needed saying: ‘While our immediate environment is changing and we need to respond to this in terms of the services we provide, I also want our fire and rescue service to evolve and have an increasingly positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our communities.

‘We’ve been encouraged by the responses we have received so far and I would urge people to submit their views before the consultation closes. I want to hear what you think – positive or negative – as well as understand what’s important to you too so that you, your family and your community feels safe and protected. We want you to achieve a safer Scotland for all, together.’

The consultation runs until Sunday, 18 July and can be accessed here. Respondents are invited to answer a short survey and give their views on the vision document ‘SFRS – Long-Term Vision’.

Responses to the consultation will be used to inform the final vision document that will set out the future direction of the SFRS.