The fire service plans to invest £3.5 million in the Western Isles.
Developments will also see a major refurbishment to Stornoway fire station.
A fire training unit at Stornoway Airport will also be built which means retained fire crews do not have to leave the island for training. In turn this will benefit local employers who will not lose staff for lengthy periods of time due to training commitments.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has entered into a partnership with Highlands and Islands Airports whose own fire and rescue personnel will also be able to utilise the training centre there which will allow closer collaborative working with their colleagues at retained stations across the Western Isles.
The new training centre, which will provide Western Isles fire personnel with facilities similar to those opened earlier this year at Dundee Airport, is expected to be completed and ready by the end of the year.
The training facility will include three compartment fire behaviour training units
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It will also have a welfare de-
Stornoway fire station is scheduled for completion by the end of 2016.
Works include refurbishment of the existing facility and the inclusion of an extension to accommodate additional training support and district office accommodation.
Robert Scott, assistant chief officer at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This latest investment is more good news for the north service delivery area and is another example of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s commitment to providing equitable access to services across Scotland.
“These strategically placed training facilities will reduce the need for our staff to travel unnecessarily and present the service with significant savings in the future. We are working with tighter budgets every year and projects such as these demonstrate the service’s commitment to making those savings and delivering best value to our communities.”
£3.5 million investment for Western Isles fire service
17 June 2015
Fire crews will be trained in a new unit within the islands