Fire services in Scotland

Fire services in Scotland are provided by local brigades, and since the establishment of a devolved Scottish government in 1999, are the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the Scottish Government. [ [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Fire Scottish Executive - Justice - Fire ] ] Prior to devolution, the responsibility lay with the Secretary of State for Scotland (the relevant "Secretary of State" referred to in legislation applicable to Scotland).

Fire Services have undergoing dramatic changes in recent years, both due to a change to operational procedures in the light of terrorism attacks and threats, and also in response to the 2002 publication of a review of the fire services in the United Kingdom by Professor Sir George Bain. His terms of reference were described as follows: "Having regard to the changing and developing role of the Fire Service in the United Kingdom, to inquire into and make recommendations on the future organisation and management of the Fire Service..." [http://www.frsonline.fire.gov.uk/publications/article/17/306 FRS Online (accessed 02 Sep 07) links to full report PDF: Independent Review of the Fire Service pub Dec 2002] ] In the foreword to the review, Bain stated that it was carried out independently and objectively: "...the Review was put together with the co-operation of theGovernment, the employers' organisations and fire authorities in England and Wales, Scotlandand Northern Ireland." [ [http://www.frsonline.fire.gov.uk/publications/article/17/306 FRS Online (accessed 02 Sep 07) links to full report PDF: Independent Review of the Fire Service: foreword page: i] ]

Legislative history of fire services

* 1824: Establishment of municipal fire service in Edinburgh [ [http://www.graeme.kirkwood.btinternet.co.uk/GenHis.htm General History ] ] , the first public fire brigade in the UK [ [http://www.fireservice.co.uk/history/ Fire Service History ] ]
* 1885: Creation of Scottish Office transferring administrative (but not legislative) responsibility to Secretary of State for Scotland.
* 1938: Fire Services Act 1938 combined the functions of 185 fire brigades and imposed fire-fighting duties upon local authorities, [ [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Fire/15130/1020 Scottish Executive - The Scottish Fire service] ]
* 1941: Fire brigades transferred to National Fire Service (NFS) to form No.11 Region [ [http://www.graeme.kirkwood.btinternet.co.uk/NFS.htm NFS ] ] ] .
* 1947: Fire Services Act 1947 returned fire brigades in Scotland to local authority control [ [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Fire/15130/1020 Scottish Executive - The Scottish Fire Service] ] , mostly via joint boards. 11 brigades were created [ [http://www.bopcris.ac.uk/bopall/ref13262.html] ] resembling somewhat the NFS areas. Section 36 of the Act dealt with its application to Scotland. Parts of the Act remain in force in Scotland.
* 1959: Parts of the UK Fire Services Act 1959 remain in force in Scotland.
* 1996: Creation of additional joint boards consequent to local government re-organisation.
* 1999: Devolved government begins in Scotland and responsibility for Fire Services transfers from Secretary of State for Scotland to the Scottish Government
* 2005: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 The scope of this act includes a "fire safety regime for non-domestic premises", but it also includes legislation that allows for the provision and operation of fire and rescue services for the eight local authority and joint board FRS in Scotland. [ [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Fire/19077/FireAct Scottish Executive (Justice) Fire Safety (accessed 19 feb 07)] ] [ [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/20050005.htm Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, Crown copyright, (accessed 23 Feb 07)] ]

cottish brigades

The Scottish brigades are still broadly based on the system of local government regions in use from 1975 to 1996. With two exceptions fire authorities are now joint boards responsible for groups of Council Areas.

*See also Fire Master for more information about chief fire officers in Scotland

Her Majesty's Fire Inspectorate for Scotland

In Scotland Her Majesty's Fire Inspectorate Inspectorate for Scotland (commonly known by the shortened and nationally-unqualified form "HMFSI") exists to inspect all fire Services in Scotland to ascertain how they are discharging their functions under relevant legislation [http://www.grampianfrs.org.uk/subdreamer/index.php?categoryid=64] . It functions as an autonomous body under the charge of the Justice Ministry of the Scottish Government [ [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Fire/15130/1018 Scottish Executive: Justice Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland (accessed 30 May 07)] ]

Other fire and rescue services

Other specialised fire and rescue services are operated in Scotland, for example at airports and military establishments.

References

ee also

*
*UK Firefighter dispute 2002/2003
*Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland
*List of Scotland-related topics

External links

* [http://www.scottish-fireservicescollege.org/ The Scottish Fire Services College]
* [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Fire/15130/1018 Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland]
* [http://www.ukfssartdogteams.org.uk/ UK Fire Service urbans search and rescue dog teams]
* [http://www.fireservice.co.uk/ Fire Service]
* [http://www.cfoas.org.uk/ Chief Fire Officers Association (Scotland)]
* [http://firefightingnews.com/united-kingdom.cfm UK Fire News]
* [http://www.efirescotland.org/ Scottish Fire and Rescue Services Procurement - Information for Suppliers]