Further cuts to Scotland’s fire and rescue service could put lives at risk, the Fire Brigades Union has warned.
The warning comes as Scotland’s Finance Secretary, Shona Robison, is set to deliver this week’s budget in the Scottish Parliament.
John McKenzie, Scottish secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “This week, Shona Robison has the opportunity to do what previous finance secretaries have failed to do and put the safety and wellbeing of communities first.
"This Scottish budget is critical for the future of Scotland’s firefighters.
"We cannot take any more cuts.”
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He said continued budget reductions have already had a major impact on the service.
John said: “The last 12 years have seen continued cuts enforced on the service and the communities it serves.
"Year-on-year cuts by successive finance secretaries have resulted in almost 1,250 job losses, fire appliances being withdrawn and response times increasing."
He said budget cuts lead to longer response times and greater risk to public safety.
John said: “In short, cuts cost lives.”
Since the formation of the SFRS in 2013, almost 1250 firefighter jobs have been lost—representing one-sixth of the workforce.
The service’s resource budget has been reduced by nearly £84 million in real terms.
The SFRS also faces a capital backlog of more than £800 million, with many fire stations described as no longer fit for purpose.
Response times have also increased.
Since 2014, the average emergency response time has risen by more than 90 seconds—from just under seven minutes to nearly eight and a half.
Proposals in the SFRS Service Delivery Review have met with widespread opposition.
The plans include options to close stations, reduce fire cover, or remove fire appliances in areas such as Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, and the Scottish Borders.
Throughout summer 2025, communities across Scotland voiced objections to the proposed changes.
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The Fire Brigades Union, community and local councils and MSPs have called on the Finance Secretary to end the cuts and give firefighters the investment they need to ensure communities are protected, and lives are valued.
The Fire Brigades Union says the outcome of this budget will have real consequences for communities and the future of the fire and rescue service.
John said: “This budget has to deliver significantly increased funding for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”
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