Fire and rescue

Overview

Firefighters do an extremely difficult and challenging job, often putting themselves at risk to keep people safe from harm.

We want to ensure that the fire and rescue service has the right resources to do its job effectively.

Actions

We are helping the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) improve the safety and wellbeing of our communities by:

  • setting out its purpose and priorities through the national fire and rescue framework
  • providing additional funding of over £5 million in 2019 to 2020 to help the service transform itself to meet new and emerging risks

We are also funding a programme to support the mental health and wellbeing of front line emergency workers, including the fire and rescue service.

Non-domestic fire safety

We produce guidance for non-domestic premises to help dutyholders (owners, employers etc) carry out fire safety risk assessments and identify safety measures. Read all the guidance.

Home fire safety

We are taking action to strengthen home fire safety by:

  • introducing minimum standards for heat and smoke alarms
  • providing guidance and taking action to improve fire safety for people living in high-rise flats and specialised housing

Background

We provide funding to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to enable it to deliver the priorities set out in the national Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland (published in March 2022). 

Our relationship with SFRS is set out in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service governance accountability framework (2018).

Bills and legislation

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 established the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in 2013 following the merger of Scotland's eight regional fire and rescue services.

Read an overview of fire safety legislation in Scotland.

Contact

Email: firedivision@gov.scot
Teltephone: 0131 244 3026

Fire and Rescue Division
Scottish Government
St Andrew's House (1R)
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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