Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 7 May 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 7 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands CPG Briefing Report Q4 2024/25 Performance & Activity Report From: 1st January 2025 To: 31st March 2025
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Introduction Welcome to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Community Board Performance Report. This performance report is designed to provide citizens, stakeholders and partners with information relating to Community Board based activity undertaken by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Whilst using historic statistical benchmarking data, consideration must be taken of the random nature of fire related incidents and events, and how this can pose difficulties in interpreting emerging patterns and trends. This is of specific relevance where Community Board level data is analysed due to the small number of actual incidents/events that occur in Community Board areas. However, regardless of statistical anomalies, emerging patterns and trends in fire related incidents and events can assist the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Community Planning Partners plan and implement preventative intervention initiatives to target reducing fire related incidents and events. Local Firefighter Training Plan Below is a list of subjects the operational crews have been focusing on within this period. Each subject has been covered both practically and theoretically and recorded in the Fire Service Training recording system. Training Subjects January/February/March • BA, Tactical Ventilation Q4 • Casualty Care Q4 • Road Traffic Collision (RTC) & Extrication Q4 • RTC Practical training • HAZMAT Q4
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Accidental Dwelling Fires (ADF) Ward 3 Year Average 2023/24 2024/25 Kintyre & the Islands 0.3 0 1 Mid Argyll 1 1 1 South Kintyre 1 1 0 Community Board Total 2.3 2 2 ADF Casualties Ward 3 Year Average 2023/24 2024/25 Kintyre & the Islands 0 0 0 Mid Argyll 0 0 0 South Kintyre 0 0 0 Community Board Total 0 0 0 Deliberate Secondary Fire Setting Ward 3 Year Average 2023/24 2024/25 Kintyre & the Islands 0.7 0 2 Mid Argyll 1 1 0 South Kintyre 0 0 0 Community Board Total 1.7 1 2 Fires in Non-Domestic Property Ward 3 Year Average 2023/24 2024/25 Kintyre & the Islands 2 1 1 Mid Argyll 1 1 1 South Kintyre 0.7 1 1 Community Board Total 3.7 3 3
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Casualties from Non-Fire Emergencies Ward 3 Year Average 2023/24 2024/25 Kintyre & the Islands 1.7 1 4 Mid Argyll 1.3 3 0 South Kintyre 0.7 0 2 Community Board Total 3.71 4 6 Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals Ward 3 Year Average 2023/24 2024/25 Kintyre & the Islands 9 4 1 Mid Argyll 14 8 12 South Kintyre 5 2 4 Community Board Total 28 14 17 Overview The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is dedicated to safeguarding the communities of Argyll & Bute through a multifaceted approach that includes emergency response, education, and prevention. Through these combined efforts, we help foster a safer and more resilient environment for the people of Argyll & Bute. To achieve these aims, we have built strong partnerships with Police Scotland, Education, and local Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs). In collaboration, we ensure a comprehensive approach. This coordinated approach allows us to address local challenges, share resources, and deliver effective safety programs that benefit the entire community. Community Engagement/LSO Activities • Continue to deliver Fire Safety advice via HFSVs (Home Fire Safety Visits) – See additional information contained at the end of this report. • We continue to work closely with Sensory Impairment officers throughout Argyll & Bute, providing much needed assistance to people with complex hearing and sight issues. Equipment is made available to those in need, along with a HFSV being conducted.
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• Continued representation on Argyll & Bute Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) for those affected by domestic violence. • Support Developing the Young Workforce through Careers Days in Oban, Tobermory, Lochgilphead, Dunoon, and Rothesay High Schools. • Continued support of the Partnership Approach to Water Safety (PAWS) group in Argyll & Bute and engage with the public through the #RESPECTTHEWATER campaign. • Engage with community groups utilising our Winter Thematic Action Plan (TAP). • Deliver annual Ice Safety Workshop across schools in Argyll & Bute, including all ten high schools. We also engaged with remote and rural schools over Microsoft Teams, where the safety message was well received. • Continue to support MCR Pathways in secondary schools. Several SFRS employees give up their time to support young people for an hour a week throughout term time, engaging with and mentoring each young person to make informed choices. • Continue to support the Violence Against Women Group (VAWG) in Argyll & Bute. • In partnership with Sensory Impairment, deliver vital safety messages into Sheltered Housing & Independent Housing complexes throughout Argyll & Bute. • We continue to support and assist in Adult Support & Protection (ASP) meetings, alongside partner agencies, to ensure safety measures are in place for vulnerable people throughout Argyll & Bute. Doddie Aid Challenge 2025 In February, our Area Management Team and operational staff participated in the Doddie Aid 2025 challenge, a 700-mile cycling event across Scotland to raise funds for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. The team embarked on a journey from Stranraer to Edinburgh via Aberdeenshire, aiming to arrive in time for the Scotland vs. Ireland Six Nations match on the 9th February. Their efforts raised over £17500 supporting vital research and awareness for Motor Neuron Disease (MND), continuing the legacy of rugby legend Doddie Weir. The My Name'5 Doddie Foundation was established by rugby legend Doddie Weir in 2017 following his diagnosis with MND. The foundation is dedicated to funding research to find a cure for MND, supporting New Home Fire Safety Visit Referral Application Our new Home Fire Safety Visit (HFSV) policy and associated application went live on Wednesday 12 February. We will continue to support our partner agencies, to assist in this move. The current links to CSET (referral platform) will be replaced on our external website, members of the public and partners will then request a HFSV online via the new app. social media content and communications to partners will also be issued to highlight the changes to our criteria and processes. We will also invite partners to attend Microsoft Teams training sessions, to support this transition.
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One of the main highlights being SFRS commitment to protecting personal data in accordance with legislation, it is imperative that all data sharing containing personal information of individuals such as name and address etc., is transmitted to and from us via the new HFSV Portal or by Egress Secure Email. Therefore unfortunately, we are now unable to accept referrals via emails. To register for use of the new SFRS referral app, please contact our Safer Homes Team for support. Email: SFRS.HFSVadministrators@firescotland.gov.uk and one of the Safer Homes Team members will be in touch to provide further information.