PEOPLE living in rural and isolated areas are being asked to consider signing up as volunteers to assist the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
The call is targeting those with specialist skills and people who own buildings or transport such as all-terrain vehicles and boats.
In a unique partnership with the SFRS, volunteers have been signing up to the Community Asset Register (CAR). The register lists people who own boats and 4x4s and who have offered to mobilise to protect and support their communities. Volunteers also bring a range of specialist skills such as mountain rescue.
The SFRS said yesterday: “Those volunteers can now be quickly identified through CAR, which is operated and activated by Operations Control at times of significant emergency to enhance a full SFRS response.
“The register will also be available to SFRS’ emergency service and local authority partners.”
The SFRS says the register is to be extended to include volunteers with buildings that can offer a temporary base to emergency personnel or warmth and shelter to displaced members of the community.
Potential applicants go through a rigorous registration process before being added to the live register – including checks that they are appropriately qualified to operate their asset and an inspection of any equipment to ensure it is safe to use.
SFRS area manager Bruce Farquharson said: “We always look for new and innovative, dynamic but nonetheless appropriate partnerships wherever possible to absolutely ensure the safety of our communities. The CAR is yet another example of this spirit, calling upon those with specialist skills, vehicles and equipment to work alongside ourselves to keep people safe. Sometimes minutes can be not only precious but vital.
“The ideal person is someone who is experienced and knowledgeable in their field and handling their equipment. We are talking about, for example, white water rafters, mountaineers and 4x4 enthusiasts but there are other possibilities.
“These are everyday volunteers with a very keen community spirit – people who might also have access to useable buildings which can cater for large numbers of emergency personnel or displaced people in need of temporary shelter.”
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