Firefighters won't be able to do their job properly with fewer crews and fewer resources. That's exactly what the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) will propose for Helensburgh.  The only way to stop these changes is for the public to oppose them.

Fire stations are pillars of security and efficiency in an uncertain world and Helensburgh Fire Station is no different.  The proposed cuts put our community at unnecessary risk, especially considering the rising trends in emergencies due to climate change and other emerging risks which SFRS are all too keen to remind us of in adverts and press releases.

SFRS senior managers have proposed that Helensburgh Fire Station should move to a shift cover system known as Day Shift Duty System where full time firefighters are only available during day shift hours with the remaining nights and weekends covered with a on-call crew.

Response times will go up, buildings will be lost, and people may die who could have been saved. This is why the planned reductions by SFRS to the number of Firefighters and the hours they are available at Helensburgh is incredibly alarming.

In 2023-24, Firefighters responded to over 24,000 fires across Scotland, saving lives and property through their rapid response and expertise. With fewer personnel and appliances, their ability to serve and protect our towns effectively is severely compromised. We shouldn't have to gamble with the safety of our community.

We urge the SFRS to reconsider the grave implications of their decision to implement cuts to firefighters and the move to having a Day Shift only full time crew in Helensburgh.  The cuts in Helensburgh are echoed across other parts of Scotland in a new crewing model the SFRS are calling DSDS (Day Shift Duty System) where only an on-call crew responding to pagers will provide fire cover in the evenings and weekends.  SFRS should invest in our firefighting resources and personnel to ensure we can respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. 

Please join us in calling on the SFRS to prioritise the safety of Helensburgh residents and the areas surrounding it by signing this petition. Together, we can ensure that our community remains protected and that our firefighters have the resources they need to save lives.