The Northern Fire Area Administration Scheme Order, 1948

Fire Service in Beauly

Since it was formed (1968) the Fire Service in Beauly has had a very remarkable record of public service. The volunteers received no pay; moreover they did not even have a proper appliance.
The pump and hose were kept in a garden shed behind the premises of Aird Motors (in Croyard road) and transport was by ordinary car to the scene of the fire. At one time the crew were called out by the old war time siren but since the siren was removed (without letting the service know) the turnouts were made by telephone. In the latter years the unit, as part of the Northern Fire Brigade, was provided with some remuneration of expenses and in 1980 a trailer that took all the gear was supplied which had to be towed behind the crew's private cars. At this time the unit had moved to a site next to the Police Station Garage. (main road on the outskirts of Beauly, wooden garage)
In the Autumn of 1982 the unit took possession of a Escort van which took the equipment and ladders plus two crew members. This type of vehicle was known as an Ultra Light Fire Appliance. The method of turnout was far from being satisfactory; as the unit became busier the volunteers started to fund their own paging system, from 1991 to 1998 at a cost to them of £700 per year.
As part of the Highland & Islands Fire Brigade there was a proposal to axe the unit in 1996, which was successfully fought by the community councils, Councilor C Coutts and the MP Charles Kennedy. Finally in 1998 the unit was upgraded with a water carrying Light Fire Appliance based on a LWB V8 Ford Transit and equipped with the latest Breathing Apparatus. (Draeger PA 94 with the Firefly DSU)
The Beauly service is now one of ninety Auxiliary Firefighting Units throughout the large land mass covered by the Highland & Islands Fire Brigade. (12,000 sq miles) The unit comprises of twelve personnel and is based temporarily in the lorry park in the village. (which is also behind the Police Station) Land purchased next to this site will hopefully see a new Fire Station built in the years 2003/4. As one of the busiest auxiliary units in Britain it averages 100+ call outs per year in an area ranging from Muir of Ord to the villages of Kirkhill and Kiltarlity, to Struy and up Glen Strathfarrar.
Donald MacKenzie was Sub Officer of the Beauly unit until his retirement at the end of 1993, after 25 years loyal and dedicated service to the Beauly unit and the community. Donald was awarded the MBE in the New Years Honors list of 1994. From 1994 the Sub Officer in charge was John Szarkiewicz, who had joined the local fire service as a volunteer in 1976 and served until an injury forced his retirement in 2000. (injured at work and not while attending an incident) Malcolm (Jock) Hannah took over as the new Sub Officer and Charles Barclay and James Geddes as the new L/Ffs.
There are no fewer than four holders of the Fire Brigade Long Service Medal (awarded after 20 years service), who served in the local unit. They are A Jankowski 1982, D MacKenzie 1992, I Marr 1992 and J Szarkiewicz 1996.
Gary Tillman was presented with a citation from the Chief Constable for the Preservation of Life from Fire, for his part in rescuing a person in the fire at the commercial hotel. Gary joined the unit a number of years later.
The crew at present are Sub Officer Malcolm Hannah, L/Ffs C Barclay & J Geddes Ffs G Allan, G Tillman, S Lymburn, N Hercher, F Mulgrew, C MacGruer and K Stevenson.
(Extract taken from "The Village of Beauly" by Kilmorack Heritage Association Published 2001).

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