SCOTLAND’S fire service needs £60 million a year to renew its ageing buildings and tackle modern day risks such as climate change, bosses have said.

Stewarton's fire station is among those which may need to be rebuilt after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered in the building.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) says rebuilding Stewarton, and 13 other fire stations across Scotland which also have RAAC panels, will cost around £77m.

Temporary roof supports are being used to prop up all the 14 stations with RAAC panelling, including Stewarton.

The SFRS launched a ‘strategic service review’ on April 30 asking members of the public to have their say on what the service should look like in the future.

As well as asking for the public’s views on service priorities, the public survey is seeking opinions on moving or merging stations in similar geographic locations, or moving in with other public services such as the police, ambulance service or local councils.

Almost half of all the country’s fire stations have been deemed to be in “poor” or “bad” condition, and 75 per cent of all SFRS buildings are “unsuitable”.

The SFRS said last year that rebuilding would be the best option for the 14 fire stations with RAAC panels – but said it did not have the money to do the work.

The Scottish Government gave SFRS an extra £10m in its capital budget for 2024-25, but the service says it still needs more - and that £77m will be needed to rebuild stations affected by RAAC.

Deputy assistant chief officer Stephen Wright, SFRS head of service delivery for the west of Scotland, said: “Some of our ageing buildings are no longer fit for purpose and require urgent action.  

“We have a significant number of fire stations without provisions such as dedicated locker rooms, dignified facilities or sufficient showering facilities.  

“Our buildings need to be safe, provide welfare facilities and comply with guidelines around decontamination after incidents to help protect our firefighters’ health.  

“While we welcome the uplift in our capital budget, we do not have the budget to address this and doing nothing is simply not an option. We must find a permanent solution.  

“By moving or merging stations in similar geographical locations, for example, we could address some of these welfare concerns while ensuring that we are best placed to meet the changing community risk across Scotland.”  

Mr Wright also says the fire service must change to address the effects of climate change, including the increased risks of wildfire and flooding.

“We have prioritised investment and bolstered our fleet in recent years with the addition of 20 specialist water rescue boats and the implementation of 25 dedicated wildfire stations across Scotland,” he continued.  

“But we expect climate change to intensify and present further challenges that we must be prepared to meet.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Despite deeply challenging financial circumstances due to the UK Government settlement, the Scottish Government is providing £393.3 million in funding for the SFRS in 2024 – an increase of £29.3 million from the previous year.

“This will enable SFRS to continue to deliver the high standard of services required to keep our communities safe.

“The increase from £32.7m to £43m in capital funding will allow the service to invest more in property, fleet and equipment.”

The 'Shaping Our Future Service' survey runs until June 30 and can be completed online at tinyurl.com/SFRSfuturesurvey.