Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
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|
| Operational area | |
|---|---|
| Country |
 Scotland
|
| Agency overview | |
| Established | 1 April 2013 |
| Employees | 8,281 (2016) |
| Chief Fire Officer | Alasdair Hay |
| Facilities and equipment | |
| Stations | 356 |
| Engines | 533 |
| Website | |
| www |
|
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS; Scottish Gaelic: Seirbheis Smàlaidh agus Teasairginn na h-Alba) is the national fire and rescue service of Scotland.
It was formed by the merger of eight regional fire services in the country on 1 April 2013. It thus became the largest fire brigade in the United Kingdom, surpassing the London Fire Brigade, and the fourth-largest in the world.
After a consultation, the Scottish Government confirmed on 8 September 2011 that a single fire and rescue service would be created in Scotland to replace the eight existing services.
Following further consultation on the detailed operation of the service, the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill was published on 17 January 2012. After scrutiny and debate by the Scottish Parliament, the legislation was approved on 27 June 2012. The Bill duly received royal assent as the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012. This Act also created Police Scotland in place of the previous eight regional police forces. The mergers were effective from 1 April 2013. Eight months after the consolidation, an internal report said the reorganisation had not negatively affected operational response.
The service is headquartered are in Cambuslang, Glasgow, which also houses a national training centre opened in January 2013. There are a further three service delivery centres in the east, west and north of the country.
On 16 August 2012 the Scottish Government confirmed the first chief fire officer of the new service would be Alasdair Hay, then acting chief fire officer of Tayside Fire and Rescue Service, following an open recruitment exercise.
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