The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Fire service to create only rope rescue unit in north of Scotland
Exclusive: Specialist team of nine to be based at Altens in Aberdeen
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is establishing a rope rescue unit in Aberdeen to serve the north of Scotland.
The Press and Journal can reveal that, following an evaluation of services, the SFRS has decided to set up a unit of nine firefighters at the Altens station in the city.
Talks are at an advanced stage but no date has been set for the unit to begin operating.
Rope rescue units respond to specialist incidents such as car crashes in the hills where vehicles can become stuck – sometimes with people inside.
One such incident which recently required rope rescue was an accident near the Lecht Ski Centre on May 1, when a motorist rolled 200ft down a hillside.
At the moment there are only three rope rescue units in Scotland, located in East Kilbride, Tollcross in Edinburgh and Lochgelly in Fife.
The Aberdeen unit is being created after the SFRS decided the lack of a more northerly rope rescue team was potentially dangerous.
A spokesman said: “There are plans to train a specialist rope rescue team at Altens in Aberdeen and there are also specially trained teams across Scotland who can be relied upon at incidents that require a rope rescue response.
“Communities throughout Scotland are also served by teams from emergency service partners such as mountain rescue and the Coastguard, with whom we work in partnership at many incidents.”
Chris McGlone, Fire Brigades Union Scotland executive council member, said: “We are in dialogue with the service at the moment over bringing specialist rope rescue to the area, although there are still some obstacles to overcome.
“We are fully supportive
“I was concerned to learn there was no unit in the north”
of bringing this provision to the north-east.”
North-east MSP Lewis Macdonald added: “I welcome this move – it’s clearly necessary and I am glad that the fire and rescue service has recognised that something needed to be done. It was very concerning to learn that there was no rope rescue unit in the north, so the news one is to be based in Aberdeen is good news.”
Councillor Martin Greig, the former chairman of Aberdeen Community Safety Partnership, said: “Having personnel who are able to deal with specific incidents such as rope rescue is an important part of the firefighter’s job and we should have these resources close at hand.”