Firefighters in Scotland are fighting back against cuts proposed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
The Cuts Leave Scars campaign was set up in 2023 in response to a decade of underfunding by the Scottish Government which forced SFRS to slash ten frontline pumps, reduce their high reach capability from 26 to 14, and to cut a further 166 firefighter posts, to balance their budget.
At that time, SFRS and the Scottish Government repeatedly stated to the public, stakeholders and the Scottish Parliament that the removal of these ten pumps was temporary. The FBU didn’t believe this in 2023 and don’t believe it now.
There is a groundswell of support. In town halls, local Community Councils have held multiple packed meetings and delivered tens of thousands of leaflets informing the public of the risk of downgrading fire cover. There are active, community-run campaigns to save fire stations and campaigns opposing proposed reductions to fire cover overnight. MPs, MSPs and local councilors across Scotland are involved and supportive of the campaign.
The bigger picture
Since SFRS was created in 2013, we have lost more than 1250 firefighter jobs across Scotland, and five control rooms have been closed. The retained duty system (which 80% of Scotland’s landmass relies on) can see 200 pumps unavailable due to having too few firefighters to crew them. The service has suffered a £58m (or 17.5%) real terms cut in funding; call handling times have increased in control rooms and response times have increased from 6 minutes 51 seconds to 8 minutes 20 seconds.
Years of underinvestment in SFRS has led to fewer firefighters, fewer fire engines, crumbling fire stations and increased risk to the people of Scotland. These proposals will close fire stations, reduce overnight fire cover and further reduce the number of operational firefighters.
The FBU demands:
- no further cuts to firefighter numbers
- no reduction to fire cover at any time of the day or night
- safe crewing levels
- investment in fire stations
- increased and sustained real terms investment from the Scottish Government
Take action
Scotland is heading to the polls on 7 May. This election is a defining moment for public safety.
Political parties must show their support for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service by publicly committing to proper investment before cuts put lives at further risk.
Send an emergency email to Scotland's Party leaders using the tools below.
Further information and campaign materials
Download campaign briefing graphics
Briefing for MSPs - autumn 2025
Submission to the Criminal Justice Committee
Submission to SFRS 'Shaping Our Future Service' consultation
In 2023, the FBU’s published ‘Firestorm’ – a report which highlighted the consequences of years of sustained underinvestment in Scotland’s firefighters and their service.
