A TOP team of fire and rescue experts has been called in to drum the Highland and Islands Fire and Rescue Service in to shape.
As revealed exclusively in recent Highland News reports, there are severe shortcomings in health and safety and working at height training procedures within the brigade.
This week we revealed how less than ten percent of the 1,400 HIFRS employees are properly trained, and that hundreds were likely to be breaking the strict working practice regulations every time they went on a "shout".
Some are not even qualified to climb a ladder to rescue a cat.
Yesterday, the Highlands and Islands Fire Board called in the head of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Advisory Unit, Steven Torrie, and a team of senior officers to draw up an action plan to get HIFRS up to scratch.
Local fire brigade union secretary Marty Cooper told the HN: "From a union point of view HIFRS has got massive problems and this will help alleviate these problems.
"This team has got huge experience and will be able to help HIFRS immensely to ensure the safey and training of our members, and the safety of the communties they serve.
"Our thanks go to the Highland News for what they have done."
Read all the details in next week’s HN.
