Argyll & Bute (Helensburgh)

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is carrying out a Service Delivery Review to look at ways of reshaping and modernising the organisation. The primary aim is to ensure that resources – staff, stations and appliances – are matched to operational risk and demand across Scotland.

During summer 2025, SFRS consulted on a series of changes involving more than 30 fire stations across Scotland. In the Argyll and Bute area, this included one option for change involving one fire station in Helensburgh.

In June 2025, a suite of recommendations was presented to the SFRS Board for decision, informed by feedback from communities, staff and stakeholders alongside operational, financial and equality evidence.

The following change was approved for implementation in Argyll and Bute:

• Proceed to introduce Day Shift Duty System* (DSDS) crewing for the first appliance at Helensburgh, which is currently crewed by wholetime firefighters. This would see that appliance crewed by wholetime firefighters during the day from Monday to Friday and crewed by on call firefighters out with these hours. The second on call appliance would remain unchanged.

*SFRS is committed to explore a range of DSDS and on call support options in response to consultation feedback

The proposed changes were put forward as part of a 12-week public consultation between June and September 2025. Engagement activity included public meetings and drop-in sessions across affected communities, attended by more than 800 people across Scotland, alongside a public survey which generated more than 3,600 responses.

In Argyll and Bute, this included:

• One public meeting held in Helensburgh on 26 August 2025. In total there were 58 attendees.

Helensburgh has the lowest operational demand of all similar stations that have two appliances.

Helensburgh has two appliances – one crewed by wholetime firefighters and the other crewed by on call firefighters. Operational demand is more aligned to the busiest on call stations with two appliances elsewhere in Scotland.

Helensburgh’s roof structure is affected by RAAC and we are unable to begin repair work until a decision is made on the station configuration and duty system. The station will be upgraded with dignified welfare facilities like single occupancy showers and toilets as well as contaminant control facilities.

A change in duty system will ensure operational response during the time of highest demand.

Pros

• Resources would be aligned with operational demand.
• Wholetime crew would be available during time of highest demand and deliver prevention activities during the day.
• Around 17 staff would be transferred to other key roles across training, prevention and operational resilience.
• Repairs to the roof structure caused by RAAC will be repaired and the station will be upgraded.
• Additional on call employment opportunities within local area.

Cons

• Increase in first appliance response times outside of core day shift hours in the area.