Emergency Services

• Firefighting
• Rescue from Road Traffic Collisions
• Rescue from Heights
• Rescue from Water
• Firefighting at Sea

Related Pages

• Our Services
• About Us
• Community Safety Advice/Boating

Rescue from Water

The majority of our frontline fire appliances have the capability to carry out rescues in inland watercourses such as lochs, reservoirs, rivers, etc. This capability comes in the form of trained personnel and appropriate equipment such as lifejackets, throw lines, rescue lines, inflatable hose apparatus, etc. We can also utilise this capability to undertake rescues from other unstable surfaces such as ice, mud or slurry.

This capability is enhanced by our Incident Support Units (ISUs), which are based at our fire stations in Bathgate, Galashiels and Marionville in Edinburgh. These ISUs carry inflatable ice rescue paths and inflatable rescue boats, which are powered by rear-mounted motors. Our Major Incident Unit, based at Newcraighall fire station, also carries an inflatable ice rescue path.