Improvements in fire service management 3/3/13
The outgoing Chief Fire Officer for the Highlands and Islands says the fire service management has made significant progress to tackle failings over the last year.
Stewart Edgar Highland and Islands Fire Board (HIFRS) meet for the final time on Friday in advance of being taken over by a single Scottish fire service in four weeks.
Mr Edgar said there has been an improvement in communications and management culture.
A reduced level of assessments of high risk premises like hospitals, care homes, hotels and bedsits is being turned around with more inspections now taking place.
Failings in training and development has resulted in improvements.
Twelve months ago firefighters passed a vote of no confidence in senior management.
The Fire Brigades Union had said that chiefs were risking firefighters' safety by not providing sufficient training.
This week Stewart Edgar said: “I see clear evidence in offices, in fire stations, training establishments and on the incident ground of staff continuing to develop HIFRS and ensure that we can deliver the highest standards of community safety and emergency response services to our communities.
“The professionalism and dedication of all our staff has demonstrated that we are once more a driving force with regards community safety and emergency response. This is all delivered in what I believe is the most challenging environment any UK fire and rescue service operates in.”