A47 CARRBRIDGE
Auxiliary Unit.
Stations
| ? to? | Wooden Hut, at The Tuck Shop (Chippie), Main Street, CARRBRIDGE. |
| ? to ? | Wooden Hut, at side of Village Hall, Main Street, CARRBRIDGE. Photo |
| 2001 | Wooden Hut, rear of MacDonald’s Garage. (Old Bridge Garage). Photo |
| 2006 | Garage rear of Dalrachney Lodge Hotel, CARRBRIDGE. Photo |
Firemasters
| ? to ? | Sub Officer Bobby Ritchie |
| 2001 | Sub Officer Douglas MacDonald |
Appliances
| 1948 | Standpipe and Hose |
| 2001 | Trailer with gear. (see below) |
| 2005 | SY55BFO LDV Convoy/H&IF&RS CRV (Wildfires & RTAs) |
| 23/11/2005 |
SY55BFM LDV Convoy/H&IF&RS CRV (Wildfires & RTAs) |
Brigades
| ? to 1941 ? | |
| 1941 to 1948 | National Fire Service? |
| 1948 to 1975 | Northern Area Fire Brigade |
| 1975 to 1983 | Northern Fire Brigade |
| 1983 to 2005 | Highland and Islands Fire Brigade |
| 2005 to | Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service |
Notes
The Northern Fire Area Administration Scheme Order, 1948
| Equipment | Volunteer | |
| Standpipe and Hose | 1 Leading Fireman | |
| 5 Firemen |
Establishment 2000
|
|
Equipment |
Auxiliary |
|
|
Pump, Hose etc. |
1 Sub Officer |
|
|
|
1 Leading Firefighter |
|
|
|
8 Firefighters |
Minimum crew required for an incident is 4
With the new brigade structure introduced in the summer of 2003 the 3 Divisions were re-organised into 2 Commands North and South, Carrbridge was put into South Command. Call signs remained the same.
The crew are called out by a call from control and then someone goes and manually operates the electric siren on top of the Police Station. The Police used to operate the siren but not now.
The present hut has double doors and the sides of the hut were made from the old wooden doors from Granton on Spey Fire Station.
The 2001 trailer contains:-
1 3 section ladder
1 portable pump
8 lengths domestic hose
small gear
The old hut at the side of the Village Hall has been donated to the Playgroup.
In the 2002 Report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland he said the Brigade could be covered by 95 Units and finance would only be given for those 95. Carrbridge is one of the 32 units which is now under threat of closure.
In the Integrated Risk Management Planning Draft Review of the 32 'Non Strategic' Units it is recommended that this unit should be maintained adopting the role of a Community Response Unit (CRU). The unit should be provided with a vehicle which in the future will be referred to as a Community Response Vehicle (CRV). It is recognised that there have been a number of Road Traffic Accidents in the immediate and adjacent areas. The role of the unit should incorporate the capacity to respond to road traffic accidents, forming part of the initial Pre Determined Attendance. A fully equipped appliance, as support, will continue to be part of the initial Pre Determined Attendance. The unit should be provided with appropriate equipment and training to allow members to effectively contribute to preserving life at RTA’s. The role of the unit should incorporate the ability to respond to forest, moorland and grassfires (wildfires). The unit should be provided with appropriate equipment and training to allow members to effectively contribute to wildfire firefighting. The area within which the unit responds to wildfires should be extended beyond the current unit area and be based upon a wider ranging ‘regional response’ proposal. In this role, the unit may be required to respond to wildfires occurring throughout the Brigade's mainland area. The unit should be provided with appropriate training to allow members to effectively deliver Community Fire Safety education/information. The unit will be classed as Auxiliary support to the Brigade and time worked will be paid accordingly. The unit has attended 106 incidents in the period 1/4/1999 to 31/8/2004. If a dwelling fire occurs an adequately equipped resource would attend from Aviemore within 12 minutes.
The Carrbridge unit assisted by the community has enhanced the ability to transport the equipment by the provision of a trailer together with a larger wooden fire shed to accommodate the trailer.
On 1st April 2005 along with 6 other Non Mobile Auxiliary Units and 1 Mobile Auxiliary Unit Carrbridge was classed as Auxiliary support to the Brigade with a role of Community Response Unit responding to wildfires and Road Traffic Accidents.
At present the appliance is kept in a garage in a field at the rear of the Dalrachney Lodge Hotel but this field has been sold for development which is starting in about six months, three sites have been identified by the crew as possible locations for a new station. (August 2006)
The Community Response Vehicle carries four knapsack tanks for wildfires and a 200 litre tank, only used for filling the knapsacks, and a length of hose for filling the tank. They also carry beaters and RTC equipment.
The Carrbridge unit responded to their first call on the 27th December 2005 to an RTC on the A9, this was not the same incident that was attended by Newtonmore on the same date.
If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.