Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service was a Local Authority fire and rescue service covering an area of 2,500 square miles (6,500 km2) of south east Scotland, and serving a total population of 890,000.[1] It was amalgamated into the single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in April 2013.
It was the oldest municipal fire brigade in the UK and the world, founded in 1824 under the leadership of James Braidwood, who later went on to establish the London Fire Brigade.[2]
The last Chief Officer, Jimmy Cambell, started his career as a Fireman with the Service in 1975, before moving to other Services through promotion. He returned as its Chief Officer in April 2010.[3]
Amalgamation in 2013
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, along with the other seven fire and rescue services across Scotland, was amalgamated into a single, new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on 1 April 2013. This replaced the previous system of eight regional fire and rescue services across Scotland which had existed since 1975. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has its headquarters in Perth.
Stations
The Lothian & Borders Service had a total of 36 operational fire stations, separated into 11 groups, with each covering a different area of Lothian and Borders.
Until March 2013 there were:
- 20 Retained only fire stations
- 9 Wholetime only stations
- 3 Day Shift Duty System (DSDS) stations (wholetime cover on weekdays, retained cover at night and weekends)
- 3 Wholetime and retained stations
- 1 Wholetime & DSDS station[4]
Headquarters were located at Lauriston Place in Edinburgh, which also housed The Museum of Fire until 2016.[5] It had separate training and Logistical Support Centres at Goldenacre and Newbridge.
Regional Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland 1975–2013
The following eight regional fire and rescue services (originally known as fire brigades) were merged on 1 April 2013, creating the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service:
The same boundaries were also used for the eight territorial police forces, which were amalgamated into Police Scotland on 1 April 2013.
Scotland