Scottish Fire and Rescue Service festive round up 2025
Across the country staff from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have been going the extra mile to spread some festive spirit.
Those magical moments include drive-through Santa grottos to fire appliances and crews bringing Santa to communities, donations of gifts and essential items and visits to hospitals.
Here’s a little snapshot of Christmas cheer the Service has been spreading across Scotland.
Aberdeen: Santa gets a lift to hospital to visit children
Crews from Aberdeen city visited the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital to support the hospital’s children’s charity, The Archie Foundation.
This annual event gives Santa a ride on an aerial ladder platform which hoists him up to the windows of the hospital, much to the delight of the children.
It brings a little piece of magic to children in hospital; some of whom can’t receive in-person visits due to care requirements.
Crews and Santa also visited accessible wards and delivered gifts.
Arbroath and Carnoustie: Breakfast events and cosy coats
Arbroath and Carnoustie community fire stations held a cosy coat appeal as crews reached out to local businesses and the community to support their cause.
The stations held open days at both fire stations during the October school holidays. More than 400 people visited the stations, where they received a free breakfast and they could take away a cosy coat or jacket in preparation for the colder months. Crews also provided vital safety advice, tours of the station and children and families got to know more about fire engines.
Remaining jackets were donated to The Lighthouse project (clothing bank), The Salvation Army and Angus Health and Social Care Partnership. The initiative was a great success and supplied more than 350 cosy jackets to members of the local community.
Ayrshire: Santa and Mrs Claus bring a warm welcome
Ayrshire’s drive through Santa events are always popular. Hundreds of families and queues of cars arrived at community fire stations in Kilwinning, Largs and Muirkirk.
While Santa is the main man, Mrs Claus often steals the show at Kilwinning Community Fire Station. Also known as Annie, the station’s cook, she always brings a warm welcome and delicious home baking.
Other events included a Christmas market at New Cumnock Community Fire Station and Maybole Community Fire Station held a children’s Christmas party.
All events were a huge success and raised more than £3,100 for the Fire Fighters Charity.
Dumfries: Santa’s Grotto
Dumfries Community Fire Station transformed into a winter wonderland with lights, Christmas trees, the Grinch and Santa. It was a busy event with 501 cars visiting and 1065 selection boxes given away. Any remaining selection boxes were handed to the children's ward at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and other community support services.
The station also raised £1,560 for the Fire Fighters Charity and Family Support Trust.
Dundee: Donations of essentials to local community
Colleagues from Blackness Road Community Fire Station in Dundee collected hundreds of essential items to donate to their local community.
The items collected included warm winter jackets, clothing, socks, shoes, welly boots, underwear, pyjamas, bedding, toiletries, and a substantial number of toys and books. More than 50 boxes were handed over to local charity TOGS who delivered them to families and the donations were greatly appreciated.
East and West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute: Christmas toys and gifts appeal
Colleagues from East and West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute have collected bundles of gifts for two local charities.
The appeal also reached the ears of a local radio station, who contributed a large number of toys to Dumbarton Community Fire Station.
Y-Sort It and Babes in the Wood received the donations which will be delivered to families in their local communities.
Garelochhead Community Fire Station also held a well-attended drive through Santa event which helped to raise funds for the Fire Fighters Charity.
Glasgow: collective effort across 11 community fire stations
The City of Glasgow’s 11 community fire stations joined forces to help Santa to deliver in their local area. They held an appeal for Christmas toys and gifts with the stations as drop-off points. All donations were collected by Glasgow charity Spirit Aid and distributed across the city as the charity’s aim is to ensure no child goes without a gift a Christmas.
A massive £16,000 has also been raised by the City of Glasgow during 2025 for various charities, marking the strong partnership between the city’s stations and their local communities.
Livingston: Festive Friends
Livingston Community Fire Station supported the annual Festive Friends appeal which helps to support older and socially isolated people in West Lothian.
Twenty Festive Friends hampers were distributed across the area which also included safety advice. Members of the community were also invited to a meal which was hosted at Livingston Football Club’s Almondvale Suite where the 5th Livingston Boys Brigade also performed.
Montrose: Partnership working and the Grinch is arrested
Montrose Community Fire Station worked closely with their Police Scotland partners to bring Santa on tour while also safeguarding the spirit of Christmas.
Police officers made an arrest along the way, when they captured the Grinch and ensured he didn’t get up to any mischief.
Local communities also showed support by bringing donations and children of all ages enjoyed being part of the fun.
Nairn: Slaying it with Santa’s Sleigh
Nairn Community Fire Station’s annual sleigh ride takes Santa on tour around local towns and villages. Along the way he spreads good cheer and collects donations and gifts, with all funds going straight back into communities to support local causes.
This event is now in its eighth year and last year more than £9,000 was collected which helped 13 local charities across the area.
This is a busy tour for Santa as he’s got a lot of ground to cover across the Highlands, and his visits are met with much anticipation. Communities can now keep a track on his journey, as Santa has gone high-tech this year with the launch of a tracking app.
Newton Stewart: community Christmas Spirit in Dumfries and Galloway
Newton Stewart Community Fire Station’s drive through Santa gained much support from local businesses and individuals who donated selection boxes.
The fire station looked magical with Christmas trees lining its entrance which were festooned with twinkling lights and decorations.
All the trees were donated by a local company, which were then given away to good homes for a donation to charity.
This is the fifth year of this annual event, which has so far raised a collective £8,359. This year’s total fundraising amount is around £1,500, taking their collective total to nearly £10,000.
Perth: Christmas gift appeal
Crews in Perth launched a Christmas gift appeal and received a huge amount of support and donations from local businesses and individuals.
The station also worked closely with partner agencies, support services and local charities to ensure that donations reach the people in their local communities who could do with receiving a little bit of help, especially at this time of year.
