Fire chief calls it a day after 30 years
area manager for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Before that he held the post of Area Commander for Argyll and Bute with Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.
In his latest role he has dealt with a huge wildfire near Barrhill and flooding in New Cumnock among other serious incidents.
Jim described the challenges of three foot flames ripping across vast grassland near Barrhill in 2016.
He said: “It was hard work for the crews. The wind was driving the fire away from them.”
A Police Scotland helicopter swooped in to the help and captured images of the blaze from the air. The shots allowed Jim to develop a strategy for firefighters to cut off the flames.
He said: “It allowed us to position our appliances to prevent the fire from spreading further.”
With more severe flooding and hot spells leading to wildfires, Jim believes extreme weather is to blame.
He said: “Climate change is having an impact now.”
After seeing more than most the fatheroftwo now intends to spend more time with his family with another grandchild on the way.
It will also give him time to indulge in his passion for landscape photography.
He said: “I have spent a fair bit of my career in Ayrshire. It is nice to finish it off here.
“It has been very rewarding. It is a great organisation to work for.”
He went on: “The role of the service has changed dramatically in 30 years.
“The traditional firefighter role is still there.”
But he said it has now expanded to deal with chemical incidents, flooding, counter terrorism and more.
He said: “I have been privileged and proud to be in this role. I wish my successor every success.
“The people I have worked with have made my job easy. I have worked with a fantastic team. I will lose them as a manager but I won’t be losing friends.
The father- of- two feels thankful to survive some dangerous situations. He was once saved by firefighter colleagues from a blazing building.
Flames burst through a house ceiling as he stood on it spreading up from a room below. The fire burnt through a hose his team were using. They relied on colleagues below to quell the flames and come to their rescue.
He said: “The fire had penetrated the ceiling. The crew had to safeguard our escape.
“I have worked with colleagues who have sadly passed away during the service. You have a bit of regret and guilt. You are grateful you have made it through.”