Stop cuts to Hawick fire station. Keep Hawick 24/7!
The Issue
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has made a decision that directly impacts the safety and well-being of our community by approving cuts to the Hawick Fire Station. For many of us in Hawick and the wider Scottish Borders, this decision is deeply personal and troubling.
Currently, Hawick Fire Station guarantees a fire engine on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensuring immediate response to emergencies. However, the recent approval to change this to a dayshift-only model poses significant risks that we cannot overlook. This change means that during the night, there would be no guaranteed immediate firefighting response from our local station.
The implications are alarming: longer response times in emergencies, increased risk to public safety and the fire service personnel, and the inevitable loss of full-time jobs, which are so integral to our local economy. Firefighters embody courage and dedication, and reducing their resources threatens not just their ability to perform effectively, but also our community's safety.
Families, businesses, and individuals across the Scottish Borders deserve the protection of a 24/7 firefighting service. Fires and emergencies do not adhere to a clock; they occur unpredictably, and our response to them should remain robust and constant.
Moreover, the decision to cut back on essential services sets a dangerous precedent. It undermines the security and confidence of our communities in times of crisis. Our population deserves better; they deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing help is always available, ready to respond rapidly in their times of need.
We demand the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to reconsider this decision and keep the full-time operation of Hawick Fire Station’s fire engine. Together, we can show that our community is united, and that our safety cannot—and should not—be compromised.
Sign this petition today to stand up for the safety and security of our communities. Demand the reinstatement of Hawick Fire Station's 24/7 fire engine, and help us protect the well-being of everyone in the Scottish Borders.
343
The Issue
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has made a decision that directly impacts the safety and well-being of our community by approving cuts to the Hawick Fire Station. For many of us in Hawick and the wider Scottish Borders, this decision is deeply personal and troubling.
Currently, Hawick Fire Station guarantees a fire engine on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensuring immediate response to emergencies. However, the recent approval to change this to a dayshift-only model poses significant risks that we cannot overlook. This change means that during the night, there would be no guaranteed immediate firefighting response from our local station.
The implications are alarming: longer response times in emergencies, increased risk to public safety and the fire service personnel, and the inevitable loss of full-time jobs, which are so integral to our local economy. Firefighters embody courage and dedication, and reducing their resources threatens not just their ability to perform effectively, but also our community's safety.
Families, businesses, and individuals across the Scottish Borders deserve the protection of a 24/7 firefighting service. Fires and emergencies do not adhere to a clock; they occur unpredictably, and our response to them should remain robust and constant.
Moreover, the decision to cut back on essential services sets a dangerous precedent. It undermines the security and confidence of our communities in times of crisis. Our population deserves better; they deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing help is always available, ready to respond rapidly in their times of need.
We demand the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to reconsider this decision and keep the full-time operation of Hawick Fire Station’s fire engine. Together, we can show that our community is united, and that our safety cannot—and should not—be compromised.
Sign this petition today to stand up for the safety and security of our communities. Demand the reinstatement of Hawick Fire Station's 24/7 fire engine, and help us protect the well-being of everyone in the Scottish Borders.
Supporter Voices
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 11 September 2026