Unit formed ?

Went Mobile ?

2000/2001 unit upgraded. Upgrades to units involves equipping them with Breathing Apparatus, Firefighting Uniforms, Road Traffic Accident Rescue Equipment, Pagers and Fire Engines appropriate to the needs of the local area.

2001/2002 Upgraded to BA Status.

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

On 1st April 2005 along with 61 other units Fair Isle was upgraded to a Retained Unit, drilling one night per week and receiving a retaining fee.

FAIR ISLE GETS ITS NEW FIRE ENGINE

11th Dec 2002

The new fire-engine for Fair Isle arrived on the Isle at 2.30 am - timed for high water so that the vehicle ramp could be used - on Wednesday morning on the Skerries ferry Filla - now known as Snolda. (A few hours later, over in Poland, the new Skerries ferry - which is to take the old name - was launched from a boatyard in Poland.
As well as the fire-engine, animal feedstuffs for the coming winter and building materials were also brought in while the old fire-engine was taken away.

Background

Under the terms and conditions of the Civil Aviation Authority Licence for Fair Isle Aerodrome the National Trust for Scotland had to replace the emergency fire tender by September 2000, when they were due renewal of the Aerodrome Licence.
The Trust had allocated some funding towards the provision of a new emergency fire tender, but in seeking to be more effective in managing the fire emergency service they wished to amalgamate with the Highlands and Islands Fire Brigade (HIFB) to provide cover across the isle.  The Trust also sought the amalgamation of the Aerodrome and the Isle fire services to ensure the continuity of equipment purchase, maintenance of the overall service and training for the fire personnel.
Initial discussions of a partnership were discussed in December 1999 between The National Trust for Scotland, HIFB and Shetland Islands Council.

Funding

The National Trust for Scotland had allocated £13,000 to the provision of the new emergency fire tender and further financial assistance was sought from Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Enterprise, with the agreement that HIFB would match the funding allocated by the NTS.
In January 2000 Shetland Enterprise agreed to a grant of £10,000 and in March 2000 Shetland Islands Council agreed funding of £20,000.
The estimated cost for commissioning the new emergency fire tender was £75,000.  This cost would procure a suitable chassis, bodywork and associated fire engineering to be carried out by the Highlands and Islands Fire Brigade workshop.  The remaining £32,000 was to be funded by the Highlands and Islands Fire Board with confirmation of this funding received in November 2000.

The New Emergency Fire Tender

In March 2001 Dave Cook was contracted in as vehicle consultant to assist with the process of the building of the new tender and oversee the Trust’s interests and ensure the CAA requirements were met. He liaised with Alex Tough of the CAA and worked with conjunction with Tony Munro of HIFB to produce the specification of the tender.
The new vehicle, once commissioned and installed on the isle, will be maintained by the HIFB and will be jointly managed by the NTS and HIFB.
(Reproduced by permission of Dave Wheeler from the Fair Isle WEB site.)

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