04 November 2008 - Duns: Improved Fire Station Officially Opens (Welcome Booklet)
Last night saw the official opening of the newly refurbished and extended Duns Fire Station. The improvements provide the Borders Community and their Firefighters with better facilities and Services.
The open evening included speeches from Convener of the Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service Board and from Chief Fire Officer Brian Allaway, and guests were also given a comprehensive presentation by the area’s Group Manager, Peter Heath, about the history of the Fire Station and how the changes to crewing and facilities have improved services to the local community.
Also showing their support to the Duns crews were MSP John Lamont, Hawick Councillor George Turnbull, and local Councillor Frances Renton as well as many other Fire Service personnel.
Convener Mike Bridgman said in his speech “Duns is the first of three Stations to be refurbished through the Service Improvement Plan, which aims to reduce fires and improve safety right across the Board’s region. We are also looking forward to Penicuik and Whitburn following later this month.
“Designed to provide an area for community and schools groups to be welcomed into the Station to learn about fire safety, fire service recruitment, or to ask advice, the facility gives all our firefighters in Duns a place of work which befits the important tasks they carry out and allows them adequate space to invite the public in to share the task of making the Borders safer from fire.
Peter Heath, Group Manager for the Borders said, “I am extremely proud of the fantastic work that the Firefighters at Duns have been carrying out. The retained crew was already working extremely hard in their efforts to make the local community safer. Now with the introduction of wholetime Firefighters during the day shift, the Services to the community have been enhanced. So much so, every home in Duns has now been visited by the Firefighters, and if we have not gained entry, a fire safety pack has been left with the householder. We have now set our sights on the wider community to ensure as many people as possible in the area are safe from the dangers of fire.”
One example of the service provided by the new arrangements is Home Safety Checks, whereby anyone can request local firefighters to check their homes for the risk of fire, and they will provide and fit a free smoke alarm if required. This can be arranged by ringing freephone 0800 169 0320.
The Fire Service would also like to ask anyone interested in becoming a retained firefighter at one of the Borders stations to get in touch; Peter said “the job of a retained firefighter is very rewarding and can fit alongside an existing full time job whilst providing an immensely valuable service to the local community. Anyone who is interested should contact me via their local fire station, or look at our website for more information, www.lbfire.org.uk.
Enquiries: Nicole Carter, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service
Tel. 0131 228 2401
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