I have today released this statement to the Press.
“Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, and Scottish Labour Holyrood candidates have issued a stark warning about the deteriorating state of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) across the Highlands and Islands, citing critical staffing shortages and underfunding.
Ms Grant revealed that only 10 out of 125 on-call fire stations in Argyll and Bute, Highland, Moray, and the Islands are currently fully staffed—less than 10%—following a series of Parliamentary questions she lodged.
“The level of risk this leaves my constituents facing is deeply troubling,” said Ms Grant. “As we saw during the recent wildfire at Dava—the largest in Scotland’s history—the demands on this vital public service are enormous.”
She attributed the crisis to long-term cuts under the SNP government, noting that the SFRS has lost over 1,200 firefighters since 2007 and is currently operating with a 29% vacancy rate.
“It’s no wonder the service is under such pressure,” she added.
Ms Grant also criticised local SNP MSP Emma Roddick for holding a debate on wildfire risks while failing to address the root causes.
“Ms Roddick should be lobbying her party to reinstate the lost firefighters and restore the £59million funding removed from the SFRS budget,” she said.
Scottish Labour candidates for the Highlands and Islands echoed these concerns. Shaun Fraser, candidate and godson of a former senior firefighter in Inverness, described his recent visit to Inverness Fire Station. He said:-
“The team there do an incredible job under difficult circumstances, but they need to be supported by the Scottish Government. I saw fire engines being kept operational well beyond their intended lifespan—literally held together by running repairs. Our firefighters deserve far better.”
Fraser highlighted the toll on staff, citing exhaustion from overtime and missed training opportunities due to understaffing.
“They’ve been badly let down by the SNP,” he said
Eva Kestner, candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, stressed the regional impact. She said:-
“The further you live from Inverness, the more serious this issue becomes. I’m calling on SFRS senior management to present clear proposals to address these urgent concerns in the North and West.”
Scottish Labour is calling for immediate action to restore staffing levels, reinvest in equipment, and ensure the safety of communities across the Highlands and Islands.