Scotland sees a huge reduction in serious fires and deaths but still retains more firefighters than England

Reporting Scotland headlines today with:

The union representing firefighters is warning (note not ‘claimed’ as Scot Gov tends to get) proposed cost cutting measures will affect the safety of the public and its members….we can’t have anything other than a reduction in the safety of the public.

Now, I fully understand why a trade union will fight tooth and nail for its members interests but a media outlet has a duty to inform its audience. Back in the 70s, a trade union ‘claim’ would be challenged rigorously, sometimes unfairly, but these days of the SNP in government, any trade union which will suggest things are not well in Scotland has become useful to news agencies such as Reporting Scotland or the press.

Here’s what you are very unlikely to hear:

In last 25 years, serious fires have reduced by more than 50% from 66 000 to 25 000.

Fatal casualties in fires have fallen by even more from around 125 to around 50.

In 2020 Scotland hd 3 636 firefighters. England has 32 171.

All things being equal, with 10 times the population, England should have 36 360 but only has 32 171. Scotland has 13% more pro rata.

Sources:

https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are/statistics

https://www.statista.com/statistics/877562/leading-fire-brigades-by-firefighter-numbers/

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fire-and-rescue-workforce-and-pensions-statistics-england-april-2019-to-march-2020/fire-and-rescue-workforce-and-pensions-statistics-england-april-2019-to-march-2020

Footnote:

I think this is, primarily about the response to tower-block fires and raises the Grenfell danger. See this, too long to paste fully here, for the facts on why there will never be a Grenfell in Scotland: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2023/01/29/scotlands-building-regulations-would-have-saved-grenfell/

6 thoughts on “Scotland sees a huge reduction in serious fires and deaths but still retains more firefighters than England”

  3. A positive news story not being picked up by the MSM – there’s a surprise.

    PS I think there may be a typo on the number of deaths (125k to 50k?)

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  4. Remember Johnson “streamlining” LFB, that’s what we’re seeing roll out in England.

    If ever you needed an example of Tories doing these “cost-cutting” exercises to the emergency services look to England’s NHS and ambulance services over the last few years – It’s the Tory version of an old adage, to if ‘it ain’t broke they’ll fix it until it is’.

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  5. In some parts. Firemen were becoming paramedics. They have training to deal with emergencies. First responders going on motorbikes in emergencies, until the ambulances arrived. There were pilot schemes.

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