Establishment 2000

With the new brigade structure introduced in the summer of 2003 the 3 Divisions were re-organised into 2 Commands North and South, Lerwick was put into North Command. Call signs remained the same.

New fire station “absolutely great”

By Hans J. Marter

The first of a new generation of fire stations for retained fire fighters in the Highlands and Islands has been opened in Lerwick, in Shetland, on Saturday.
The £1.5 million station, at Sea Road, was officially opened by the convenor of the Highlands and Islands Fire Board, councillor Drew McFarlane Slack MBE.
The purpose-built station has been described by station officer Jim Moar as “absolutely great”. It replaces the old fire station at Grantfield, which was converted from a Territorial Army garage in the 1960s.
Mr Moar said: “This is the flagship of what is to come in the future. We have been waiting for this for a long time. It has been on the go for about 10 or 15 years now. It is finally here and it has been well worth waiting for.”
The spacious building has ample car parking for Lerwick’s 20 retained fire fighters, has good access for the station’s three fire engines and provides for extensive drill ground facilities.
It also incorporates the Shetland district office and provides accommodation for offshore fire fighting equipment.
Shetland’s assistant district officer Duncan MacDougall said: “We have never been in a better position to provide a dedicated fire brigade which will respond to any emergency promptly and effectively and help make the Shetland district safer.”
(Shetland News, Monday, 14 April, 2003.)

Messenger boy remembers

During the Second World War Lerwick man Douglas Smith was employed as a messenger with the NFS. Here he recalls some memories of what the fire service in Lerwick used to be like.
“I remember the fire station at the headquarters of the ‘scaffies’ in a shed, commonly known as the Art Gallery, where the entrance to the museum now stands. The park there was the communal drying green for the folk in the lanes who had no gardens. “My first memory of a fire was when, from King Harald Street, I saw smoke billowing from the property known as ‘Post Office House’ at 47 St Olaf Street. Mr Anderson, who was the waterman, arrived with a barrow on which there was an old hose with wire wrapped round it. He attached the hose to a hydrant in the street but more water came out of holes in the hose than out of the nozzle!
“During the war the NFS has a base in the former Anglo Scottish Curing station at the foot of Browns Road. Weekly practices were held. I don’t think that there was an actual fire engine but I do remember being driven in a truck with a trailer attached that contained hose-reels and standpipes.
“Jeffrey Arthur and I were employed as messengers. We were issued with black battle tunics and trousers, a peaked cap and tin hat. We used our own bicycles and received a retainer of 2/6 per week.
“The full-time fire master was Mr Gray and among the fire crew were Charlie Alger, ‘Black Ertie’ Pearson, Dodie ‘Currants’ and ‘Boon’ Bain, well known local characters who are long gone but not forgotten.
“One incident comes to mind when there was a simulated fire at the army quarters at Kveldsro. We set off with truck and trailer at high speed along the Esplanade but the trailer mud wing became rather attached to the barbed wire entanglements that protected the harbour at the time and we were brought up all standing. The defence authorities were not amused; nor were the ‘victims’ at Kveldsro at our non appearance!”
<PHOTO> The heroes line up outside their old fire station. (Station Officer, Sub Officer, 2 Leading firefighters and 13 Firefighters.)
(Post April 2003)

HIGHLAND & ISLANDS FIRE BRIGADE

official opening of the

Lerwick Fire Station

12^th April 2003

It gives me great pleasure as Shetlands District Officer to welcome you to the official opening of the new Lerwick Fire Station. The proposal to build the new station was presented to the Fire Board at their meeting in 19 April 2001 which was coincidentally held at the Lerwick Town hall. The Fire Board unanimously agreed to proceed with the build and £1.5 million was earmarked for the project. This further confirmed the Fire Boards commitment to provide an effective, well equipped and adequately resource fire brigade.
This station is unique, it is the first build of the next generation of retained Fire Stations. Not only is it a fire station, it also incorporates the Shetland district office and provides accommodation for the off shore fire fighting equipment.
These facilities offered here are excellent and they will be a tremendous morale fillip not only to the Lerwick unit, but also to the Shetland fire fighting personnel as well. We have a new station of which we can be extremely proud, the vehicles and equipment are modern, the personnel are fully trained and competent. We have never been in a better position to provide a dedicated fire brigade which will respond to any emergency promptly and effectively and help make the Shetland district safer.

Duncan MacDougall
Assistant District Officer, Lerwick

Since reporting at Lerwick Fire Station at Grantfield on a cold dark Tuesday night in October 1971, I have seen some change over the years. From being the youngest in the station. I am now the oldest, so there has been a complete change in personnel.
The fire appliances were an old Bedford pump escape (the one with the big wheels on the back), a Bedford TK with split windscreen and an old Green Goddess, painted red of course.
We’ve had Renaults, Dodges and Mercedes appliances since then and now we have 2 new Volvo FL6’s and an Isuzu Midi, major changes have also occurred over the years with equipment being updated regularly.
The new Fire Station however surpasses all of the above, it is modern spacious, well laid out and finished to a very high standard, for the first time ever we have a purpose built station with ample car parking, good access and with extensive drill ground facilities.
The Highland & Islands Fire Brigade, the architect, contractors and everyone involved with the project, can be proud of their achievement.
All personnel at Lerwick are excited, proud and honoured to be part of a new era in the history of Lerwick Fire Station.

Jim Moar
Station Officer, Lerwick

Order of Ceremony

Master of Ceremonies Assistant District Officer Duncan MacDougall

Introduction

Firemaster Mr Brian A. Murray, BA (Hons.) MA MIFireE

Welcome

Convenor of our Fire Board Mr Drew McFarlane Slack, MBE

Blessing

Reverend Gordon Oliver

Official Opening

Convenor of the Fire Board Mr Drew McFarlane Slack, MBE

Station Response

Station Officer Mr Jim Moar

Tour of Station and facilities followed by buffet and refreshments.

A page with eleven photos of incidents and drills etc. (photos not on this site)

A page of individual photos of the present twenty crew members. (photos not on this site). Their names are as follows:-
Station Officer J. Moar(1360), Sub Officer K. Thomason(2862), Leading Firefighter C. Nicolson(3316), Leading Firefighter G. Mouat(3754), Firefighter M. Younger(2663), Firefighter G. Nicolson(2956), Firefighter P. Stevenson(3532), Firefighter S. Hunter(3848), Firefighter S. Sutherland(4142), Firefighter G. Stevenson(4401), Firefighter J. Waterhouse(4453), Firefighter L. Chapman(4666), Firefighter D. Scott4668), Firefighter D. Stewart(4709), Firefighter G. McMillan(4715), Firefighter P. Spence(4913), Firefighter D. Hunter(4938), Firefighter J. MacLeod(4951), Firefighter L. Nicolson(5215), Firefighter J. Wiseman(5322).

(The Official Opening Programme)

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.