Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - Argyll & Bute Performance Scrutiny Group 2025-26 Q1 Scrutiny Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 28 August 2025
Back to Community Services Committee — 28 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Scrutiny Report 2025-26 Q1 Argyll & Bute Performance and Scrutiny Group Argyll and Bute
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202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on About the statistics within this report The activity totals and other statistics quoted within this report are published in the interests of transparency and openness. They are provisional in nature and subject to change as a result of ongoing quality assurance and review. Because all statistics quoted are provisional there may be a difference in the period totals quoted in our reports after local publication which result from revisions or additions to the data in our systems. The Scottish Government publishes official statistics each year which allow for comparisons to be made over longer periods of time. Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Summary Trends Accidental Dwelling Fires (ADFs) Accidental Dwelling Fire Casualties Non-Fire Casualties Deliberate Fires Non-Domestic Fires Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS) Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs) Fire Safety Enforcement Community Safety & Engagement Glossary of Terms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Contents Scrutiny Report 2025-26 Q1 Argyll & Bute Performance and Scrutiny Group Argyll and Bute
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1. Summary 130 Fires 80 184 False Alarms 394 7 0 0 Fire Fatalities 9 6 59 UFAS 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Non-Fire Incidents People Rescued by Firefighters People Receiving First Aid or Hospital Treatment (Non-Fire) People Receiving First Aid or Hospital Treatment (Fires) Non-Fire Fatalities Top 10 Incident Types Fire (Outdoor) False Alarm (Due to … False Alarm (UFAS) False Alarm (Good I… Inter-Agency Fire (Building) Other Non-Fire Vehicle (Non-fire) Fire (Vehicle) Flooding / Water Res… Humanitarian 101 68 59 56 33 20 15 14 9 7 7 2025-26 Q1 Fire Safety AuditsHome Fire Safety Visits Total Incidents (Incl. Incompletes) In this report, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) demonstrates a strong commitment to public safety through its response to a wide range of operational incidents, as outlined above. Home fire safety remains a key priority, with updates on our referral pathway provided in section 12 of this report. Fire safety audits and community engagement initiatives continue to be proactive measures that contribute to making our communities safer places to live, work, and visit. The overall trend reflects consistent management of incidents, with seasonal variations influencing activity levels. Accidental dwelling fires are closely monitored, and efforts to reduce deliberate fires and non-fire incidents remain ongoing. The data presented highlights a well coordinated approach to fire prevention and emergency response.
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2. Trends 202505/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Accidental Dwelling Fires 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 17 11 24 10 10 24 22 13 13 17 1616 18 12 18 20 Deliberate Fires 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 25 42 5 40 6 11 22 16 9 812 13 21 18 11 8 Non-Domestic Fires 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 7 4 11 2 3 10 10 4 7 6 8 7 5 6 8 4 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 147 59 209 56 142 189 75 65 6677 150158 185 6968 168 Road Traffic Collisions 2021-22 Q2 2021-22 Q3 2021-22 Q4 2022-23 Q1 2022-23 Q2 2022-23 Q3 2022-23 Q4 2023-24 Q1 2023-24 Q2 2023-24 Q3 2023-24 Q4 2024-25 Q1 2024-25 Q2 2024-25 Q3 2024-25 Q4 2025-26 Q1 21 17 26 12 26 15 13 18 13 15 12 16 20 20 17 19 Previous 16 quarters (4 years)
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3. Accidental Dwelling Fires Extent of Damage Incidents Not applicable 8 Limited to room of origin 2 Limited to item 1st ignited 1 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Source of Ignition (Top 10) Cooking appliance Electric Lighting Electricity supply Other Other domestic style appliance 7 1 1 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 10 15 20 11 Accidental Dwelling Fires in this period 2025-26 Q1 Incidents by Ward Oban South & the Isles Cowal Helensburgh & Lomond South Isle of Bute Kintyre & the Islands Lomond North Oban North & Lorn South Kintyre 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 SFRS is dedicated to reducing accidental dwelling fires in domestic properties across Scotland. This commitment is evident through our proactive measures, community engagement, and continuous improvement strategies. SFRS employs a range of proactive measures to prevent fires before they start. One of their key initiatives is the HFSV program, where Community Action Teams(CAT) and Operational Crews visit homes to assess fire risks and provide tailored advice on fire prevention in a domestic setting. These visits often include the installation of smoke alarms and heat detectors to comply with Scottish Government legislation thus ensuring that homes are equipped to detect fires early. Over this quarterly reporting period we seen a decrease in accidental dwelling fires from 16 to 11.
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4. Accidental Dwelling Fire Casualties Non-Fatal Casualties 0 Fatal Casualties 0 Nature of Injury/Cause of Death Casualties 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Casualties by Ward Trend by Quarter (4 years) 0 2 4 0 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) 0 0 First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries 0 Hospital Serious Injuries 2025-26 Q1 SFRS is committed to reducing accidental dwelling fire casualties across all communities in Scotland. This dedication is reflected in our comprehensive reduction strategies, community focused initiatives, and continuous efforts to improve fire safety. Through strategic initiatives, community engagement, a data-driven approach, support for vulnerable groups, and continuous improvement, we strive to make every home in Scotland safer. Our efforts not only save lives but also promotes a culture of fire safety awareness and prevention within our communities. Over this reporting period there were no accidental dwelling fire casualties to report.
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5. Non-Fire Casualties 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Casualties by Ward Oban North & Lorn Mid Argyll Kintyre & the Islands Lomond North Cowal Isle of Bute 6 3 2 2 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 10 20 30 40 Non-Fatal Casualties 9 Fatal Casualties 6 7 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) 0 8 First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries 1 Hospital Serious Injuries Nature of Injury/Cause of Death Casualties Not known 5 Chest / Abdominal injury 3 Drowning 2 Other 2 Other medical condition 2 Back / Neck injury (spinal) 1 2025-26 Q1 During this reporting period, we responded to a range of non-fire-related incidents, including road traffic collisions, water rescues, and other specialist operations. Tragically, there were six incidents involving fatal casualties during this reporting period. Our crews were primarily mobilised to support partner agencies such as Police Scotland, HM Coastguard, and the Scottish Ambulance Service. The majority of these responses involved assisting with out of hospital cardiac arrests, along with two water related incidents on Jura and Loch Lomond.
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6. Deliberate Fires Property Type Incident Grassland, woodland and crops 25 Refuse 9 Other outdoors (including land) 6 Dwelling 1 Road Vehicle 1 Hour of Day 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Lomond North Dunoon Cowal Helensburgh & Lomond South Isle of Bute Oban South & the Isles Helensburgh Central Mid Argyll Oban North & Lorn 16 5 4 4 4 4 2 2 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 0 20 40 42 Deliberate Fires in this period 2025-26 Q1 We are committed to reducing deliberate fire setting, recognising the significant dangers it poses to communities and the environment. Deliberate fires can endanger lives, cause property damage, and divert valuable resources away from genuine emergencies. We have several strategies to reduce this type of incident including: Community Engagement: We actively engage with communities to raise awareness about the risks and consequences of deliberate fire setting. This includes educational programs aimed at children and young people across Argyll & Butes schools. Collaboration with Partners: We collaborate with various partners, including Police Scotland, Community Wardens and with local school. Reporting and Prevention: We encourage the public to report any suspicious activities or build up of rubbish that could potentially be set on fire. Over this reporting period we continue to see a reduction over the 4 year trend highlighted in the graph above. We have seen an increase in deliberate fire setting over this period, particularly in Lomond North, which we will continue to actively monitor. In April our Community Action Team(CAT) attended Hermitage Academy to deliver a presentation on anti-social behaviour and deliberate fire-setting.
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7. Non-Domestic Fires Top 15 Property Types Property Type Incidents Education 1 Entertainment and culture 1 Hospitals and medical care 1 Residential Home 1 4 (100.0%) Accidental Deliberate 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward South Kintyre Cowal Oban South & the Isles 2 1 1 Extent of Damage Limited to item 1st ignited Not applicable 2 2 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 5 10 4 Non-Domestic Fires in this period 2025-26 Q1 We are dedicated to reducing non-domestic fires, recognising the significant impact these incidents can have on businesses, public buildings, and the wider community. Non-domestic fires can lead to substantial economic losses, disrupt services, and pose serious risks to public safety. Our local Fire Safety Enforcement(FSE) team acts as an enforcing authority for fire safety legislation in non-domestic premises. This includes regular inspections, ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations. Our enforcement team also provide support and education to duty holders, including building owners, managers, and staff, to help them comply with current legislation Over this recording period we have seen a decrease in Non-Domestic fires from 11 to 4. .
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8. Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals Top 15 Property Types Property Type Incidents Hotel/motel 17 Residential Home 13 Sheltered Housing - not self contained 9 Hospitals and medical care 3 Other holiday residence (cottage, flat, chalet) 3 Other Residential Home 3 Laboratory/research Establishment 2 Offices and call centres 2 Retail 2 Boarding House/B&B other 1 Boarding School accommodation 1 Entertainment and culture 1 Industrial Processing 1 Student Hall of Residence 1 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Isle of Bute Mid Argyll Oban South & the Isles Helensburgh Central Oban North & Lorn Lomond North Cowal Dunoon Kintyre & the Islands South Kintyre 9 9 9 8 7 6 4 4 2 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 0 100 200 59 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals in this period 2025-26 Q1 SFRS introduced a new policy in 2023 aimed at reducing Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS). This policy is part of our ongoing commitment to enhance community safety and improving the use of resources across Scotland. UFAS are false alarms triggered by automatic fire alarm systems. These false alarms can be caused by various factors, including break of manual call points, cooking fumes, dust, or lack of maintenance. UFAS incidents divert fire crews from genuine emergencies, leading to unnecessary costs and potential delays in response to real fires. Since the implementation of our revised policy, we continue to see a reduction in this type of incident, which is highlighted in this report.
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9. Road Traffic Collisions 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on Incidents by Ward Oban North & Lorn Mid Argyll Cowal Oban South & the Isles Helensburgh & Lomond South Helensburgh Central Kintyre & the Islands Lomond North 5 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 Trend by Quarter (4 years) 15 20 25 17 Road Traffic Collisions in this period Non-Fatal Casualties 8 Fatal Casualties 1 1 People Rescued by Firefighters Extent of Harm (Non-Fatal) 0 8 First Aid Given at Scene Hospital Slight Injuries 0 Hospital Serious Injuries Property Type Incidents Car 12 Bus/coach 1 Minibus 1 Motorcycle 1 Multiple Vehicles 1 Other 1 2025-26 Q1 Incident Type Incidents Vehicle (Non-fire) 14 Other Non-Fire 2 Fire (Vehicle) 1 The SFRS is committed to reducing the number of Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) across Scotland's road network. We recognise the devastating impact these incidents can have on individuals, families and communities. We have implemented a range of strategies and initiatives aimed at prevention and effective response. We work closely with Police Scotland and at tend the 'L' Division Road Safety Governance group on a quarterly basis. This meeting allows key stakeholders to identify new and existing risks and coordinate joint road safety strategies across Argyll & Bute. In this report the total number of RTC incidents remain unchanged from last quarters report.
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10. Home Fire Safety Visits 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 11. Fire Safety Enforcement 2025-26 Q1 Update as of 2024-25 Q4: Statistics for Home Fire Safety Visits are not available due to a system change. The Business Intelligence Team is actively working in collaboration with Digital and Technology Services and the Community Safety Team to ensure suitable quality for future reporting. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Update as of 2024-25 Q4: Enforcement data is currently not available due to data quality issues. The Business Intelligence Team is actively working to ensure suitable quality for future reporting. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
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202531/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 2025-26 Q112. Community Safety & Engagement Fire Skills Relaunch Event We were proud to relaunch our Fire Skills program in May. The course is aimed at young people between the ages of 12-18. It includes a range of sessions based on firefighter drills and can help to develop key skills such as problem solving, first aid & CPR, team working, leadership and communication. Our thanks to the inspirational young people who took part, their enthusiasm, teamwork, and dedication made this course truly special. Our next course will be taking place at Oban Community Fire Station in September. (Pictured - Area Commander Joe McKay with course members. Also pictured, operational crews detailing practical drills during the course) Summer Safety In preparation for Summer, SFRS, Police Scotland, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority came together to strengthen our multi-agency efforts and raise awareness of the dangers of wildfires, while promoting our Wildfire Strategy. Our Community Action Team(CAT) engaged in delivering our Summer Safety messaging across the national park and beyond. Pictured here, CSAs Johnstone and Reed provided vital wildfire and water safety advice to local residents and businesses. Education Engagements Over the past quarter, the CAT has been actively supporting engagements across all of Argyll & Bute’s secondary schools. This included delivering Water Safety Scotland’s Spring Workshop, aimed at helping young people stay safe around bodies of water. We also took the opportunity to present a dedicated wildfire safety session, highlighting the dangers these incidents pose during the warmer summer months. We were proud to host our second Emergency Services Workshop on Mull, showcasing the vital work of our partner agencies. A big thank you to all the staff, pupils, and partners who attended and contributed to the success of the event. In partnership with MCR Pathways, we recently welcomed a young person to spend a day at Oban Fire Station, where he gained hands on experience and learned vital CPR skills.
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202531/07/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on 2025-26 Q1 Home Fire Safety Visits New Home Fire Safety Visit Referral Process Launched On February 12th, we launched a new referral process for Home Fire Safety Visits, designed to better identify and support individuals at higher risk. This update introduce s a streamlined digital referral system and enhances collaboration through a new Data Sharing Framework (DSF). To support the roll out, SFRS is providing ongoing training and guidance to partner organisations, ensuring they can effectively use the new system. These improvements reflect our continued commitment to enhancing fire safety and reducing fire-related incidents across Scotland. Community Events Thank You for Joining Our Fire Station Open Days! We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our recent open days at Helensburgh, Tobermory, and Oban fire stations. A huge thanks to our partners and volunteers who helped make the days run smoothly, and to all who kindly donated to the various charities we support, your contributions will make a real difference in our local communities across Argyll & Bute. In May, Oban Fire Station firefighters joined fellow emergency services for the final day of the RNLI’s May Day Mile challenge. Thanks to a fantastic effort from the Oban lifeboat crew, the station ranked among the top fundraisers nationally, a brilliant show of teamwork and community spirit! A big thank you as well to everyone who visited our stall at the Carrick Castle Summer Fayre. Our Lochgoilhead crew had a fantastic time sharing practical advice on road safety, outdoor safety, and how to stay safe at home. SFRS Service Delivery Review (SDR) The Service Delivery Review (SDR) is a strategic process undertaken by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to assess and improve how fire and rescue services are delivered across Scotland. Focusing on ensuring resources are aligned with community risk, enhancing operational effectiveness, and supporting national resilience. The SDR helps SFRS adapt to changing demands, improve public safety, and deliver value through evidence based decision making. We will be holding a public engagement to discuss SDR on Tuesday the 26th August 6 - 8pm at the Victoria Halls, Sinclair St, Helensburgh, G86 8TU
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13. Glossary of Terms Term - What it means ADF Accidental Dwelling Fire. HFSV Home Fire Safety Visit. PDIR Post Domestic Incident Response, a term used to indicate actions taken following attendance at a fire or other incident in the home. PDIRs include amongst things the offer of a free follow up home fire safety visit. RTC Road Traffic Collision. Special Service Calls to incidents which are not fires or false alarms such as RTCs, rescues, flooding, incidents involving hazardous materials or the provision of assistance to other agencies. UFAS Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals. When an automatic fire detection and alarm system is activated as a result of anything other than an actual fire the activation is classed as a false alarm. If an attendance is made to such an event by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, then the event is recorded as an UFAS incident. UFAS Policy Change In response to COVID, on the 6th May 2020, the SFRS decided to send 1 pump to UFAS premises that did not have their own Predetermined attendance (PDA). As of 1st July 2023, the COVID interim 1 pump response was ended and a new UFAS policy was implemented. The new policy is to call challenge all UFAS incidents with the intention of non-attendance. Hospitals, care homes, and sleeping risk premises are all exempt and receive either 2 pumps or their premise specific PDA. 202504/08/25 © Scottish Fire & Rescue ServiceReport generated on
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Design, figures and charts by the Business Intelligence team.