Action stations for new Oban firefighter Jack
New recruit Jack Lamont has joined Oban firefighters on the front line.
Jack is one of more than 80 outstanding trainees who have just graduated from Scotland’s firefighting schools.
The 24-year-old from Balloch joined Amber Watch four weeks ago and follows in the footsteps of his dad who retired from the Fire Service in Glasgow after more than 30 years.
Some of the 80-strong group were put through their paces at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s £10.5million state-ofthe-art facility in Newbridge, Edinburgh, over the course of 11 weeks. Others, including Jack, graduated from the SFRS National Training Centre in Cambuslang.
Ready for action, Jack is settling in well with colleagues, helping to protect the Oban community and work with other partner services to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, says Oban Crew Commander Ewan Diven.
‘Jack’s doing well. He’s very switched on and he’s already passed an important milestone making breakfast and lunch for his fellow crew that was quite edible!’ he said.
Over the next three years Jack will work on his response and technical rescue skills under a structured training programme.
Responding to road traffic collisions, urban search and rescue, mass decontamination, rope rescue and water rescue are just some of the missions Jack will undertake during his career.
Jack’s first impressions of Oban are good even in this strange time of COVID-19.
He said: ‘Oban’s very quiet so far, with people following advice to stay safe and stay home.
Usually it would be heaving with tourists at this time of year, but it means I’m getting time to get to know the station. With my dad being in the Fire Service, it meant I grew up with it. It’s always been part of family life.’
More new faces will be joining the Oban station soon, says Crew Commander Diven.
Community Safety Minister Ash Denham recently praised the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for the important work they are doing to keep communities safe during the coronavirus emergency.
He said the latest training graduates will be ‘a valuable addition in helping keep our communities safe during the challenging times we are experiencing.’