A new 2 bay station was opened in 1980.

In June 2008 Watch Manager John Strachan was awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal.

Stonehaven had a call sign of 95 in Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, this was changed to R33, the new National Call Sign, when the Control at Mounthooly closed on 8/11/2016.

Watch Manager John Strachan (Stonehaven) received his 40-year long service certificate from ACO Scott. (16/11/2016)

New Fire Engine.
If anyone had been in the vicinity of the Stonehaven Fire Station on Monday they would have perhaps seen the new totally enclosed fire engine which, in about nine or ten days time, will be the pride of the members of the local fire service. On Monday the machine, which carries an enclosed tank containing 420 gallons of water ready for immediate use at a fire, was being tested as to its manoeuvrability and height for getting in and out of the station. On Saturday the brigade received a call to a chimney fire.
(Mearns Leader and Kincardineshire Mail, March 23, 1951. Page 4)

NEW FIRE ENGINE

Alterations having been completed at Stonehaven fire station, one of the firefighting units which was being temporarily housed at Aberdeen returned on Friday. Now that the floor has been lowered several inches and a new door fitted, the firemen are awaiting their arrival of the new engine.
(The Mearns Leader, May 22, 1964. Page 5)

Public Subscribed £65 For Stonehaven’s First Fire Engine

A new fire station may be built in another part of Stonehaven in the late 1970s. This was indicated at a meeting of the North East Fire Area Joint Board in Aberdeen when Mr J. C. Donachie, firemaster, Aberdeen, said they would have to start thinking about leaving their present premises for a new purpose-built station.
With the increasing traffic in Allardice Street, especially in the summer, there is often difficulty in getting the fire engines out quickly when traffic has built up at up at the lights.
The firemaster will therefore be looking for a site where the engines will be able to make a quick get away.
Fire-fighting methods have changed greatly since the days when the first engine in Stonehaven was bought by public subscription for £65.

24 VOLUNTEERS

The money was raised, together with about £20 for a house in which to keep the engine, ladders and buckets, by contributions from 1/- upwards.
At a meeting of the town council on May 5, 1859, Provost Kinnear submitted a letter addressed to the council by Bailie Thomson about obtaining a fire engine for the town.
The engine was bought in Glasgow, and on September 1, 1859, it is reported that “a meeting of the inhabitants was convened in the Music Hall on the invitation of the town council to inspect the new fire engine and to appoint a brigade to manage it in cases of emergency. Bailie Thomson gave a detailed account of the nature of the gearing and mode of working the engine. About 24 young men volunteered their services to form a fire brigade”.
The following month the brigade was called to house fire in the Old Town, and their speed and efficiency were highly praised.

A HAND CART

About 43 years ago the brigade, which was then still under the jurisdiction of the town council, possessed a hand-cart, some reels of hoses and a few ladders. Two of the men pulled the hand-cart, while the others pushed.
They were called out to fires by the town’s bell ringer, and older members of the public recall seeing the late Mr George Little dashing from the town hall to the bell tower at Market buildings to ring the bell. The fire station was behind the town hall.
In 1929 the first mechanised equipment was bought. It consisted of a fire tender and trailer pump. On the tender were hose reels and a large fire extinguisher.
The fire brigade remained the responsibility of the town council until the outbreak of war, when it became the Auxiliary Fire Service.
Under the Fire Services Act 1947 local fire brigades were centralised under joint committees.
The present equipment at Stonehaven comprises a Ford water tender with ladder and fire equipment. It has a 40 ft. extending ladder, crash equipment and a 400 gallon water tank.
There is also a Commer pump water tender fitted with a 400 gallon tank and a light weight pump. Both machines carry breathing apparatus.

IN CHARGE

Mr William Young who has had 23 years’ service with the brigade, is sub. officer in charge of the Stonehaven station, a post he has occupied for the last 13 years. The brigade’s strength is 19.
Our photograph shows Stonehaven’s fire tender and pump with members of committee and fire brigade in November, 1929. Standing on fire tender (left to right): James Taylor, James George, Alex. McIntosh_. Seated on tender: William Christie, Robert Malcolm, Alex. McDonald, Wallace Burness. John Gordon, Henry Pirie. Standing: W. B. Malcolm, Bailie P. B. Murray. George Jamieson (burgh surveyor), Bailie Donald McLean, Bailie Commander White, Councillor George Gibson, Councillor Joseph McDonald.
(The Mearns Leader, Friday, November 10,1972.)

NEW £93,000 FIRE STATION
A figure of £93,000 has been included in the capital estimates of the Grampian Region’s Public Protection Committee for a new fire station at Stonehaven.
This is subject to a possible financial axe, but it is hoped to spend £78,000 in 1976/77 on a new station, although a site has still to be obtained.
It is felt that the existing station has several deficiencies, particularly the heavy traffic load passing the exit.
(The Mearns Leader, January 23, 1976. Page 1) 

SITE FOR NEW FIRE STATION
Grampian Regional Public Protection Committee has decided to purchase a site from Dr and Mrs H. B. Christie, Forest Hill, for a proposed new fire station at the junction of Brickfield Road and Cruden Terrace, Stonehaven.
The committee was told that provisional terms had been agreed for the purchase of a third of an acre, but committee chairman Mr J. A. S. McPherson, Macduff, said there was still a small query over exact area required.
The chairman and the Earl of Kintore were given powers to conclude the deal once the exact setting of the fire station was resolved.
Mr McPherson explained that the site proposed was diamond shaped, and he thought it might be advisable to adjust this slightly.
(The Mearns Leader, Friday, June 16, 1976. Page 7)

Councillor’s “Reservations” On Stonehaven’s New Fire Station. 

Plans for Stonehaven’s new £90,000 fire station, which is to be sited at the Brickfield Road – Cruden Terrace Junction, I’ve been approved by Grampian Region’s Public Protection Committee – but not without some critical comments about the design.
Councillor Angus Pelham Burn, Banchory, was sharply critical of the valley gutter which will run between the twin roofs of the new building.
He claimed that valley gutters had been shown to be a source of trouble, causing damp to penetrate buildings.
Agreeing that such gutters had caused problems in the past, depute regional architect Mr Robert Samuel commented that with the type of materials now being used, he felt there was less likelihood of trouble.
The architect had opted for dual roofs of different pitches to overcome the problem of elevations, he explained. It had also had to be borne in mind they need to keep within the building cost limits set by the Scottish Home and Health Department.
It was also desirable, Mr Samuel added, that as the new station was to be in a residential area, the materials used would have to be and keeping with those in the locality.
Other members of the committee also had reservations about the plan displayed for their approval, but they did not press for the design to be amended, in view of the delay this would cause the project, with a consequent cost an increase in cost.
The committee agreed, however, to inform the architects that they did not favour further valley gutters.
The committee was told that the Stonehaven plan met the Scottish Home and Health Department’s criteria, and the Department’s approval will now be sought to invite tenders for the work.
(The Mearns Leader, Friday, February 10, 1978. Page 1)

STONEHAVEN’S NEW FIRE STATION TO BE BUILT BY LOCAL FIRM 

A local firm of building contractors, Robert Thompson and Sons Ltd., 19 Bridgefield, have been awarded the contract to build Stonehaven’s new fire station, which is to be sited in a field bounded by Cruden Terrace and Brickfield Road.
Thomson and Son’s tender of £111,856 was the lowest of five submitted and accepted by Grampian Region’s public protection committee. Total cost of the scheme, inclusive of furniture, equipment, and professional fees will be £129,160.
It is the first new fire station to be undertaken by the Regional Council, and the contract comprises site requirements including the provision of perimeter security fencing; grounding of existing overhead electric cables; reinforced concrete yard and approaches; reinforced hose target point; hose and drill tower, and three stage petrol/oil interceptor.
A spokesman for Thomson and Sons said that it was hoped to begin work on the project “pretty soon”.
(The Mearns Leader, Friday, September 22, 1978. Page 1)

As Stonehaven’s New Fire Station Comes “On Stream” –
PLEA TO PARENTS – TELL YOUR BAIRNS TO KEEP WELL CLEAR

AS OF TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON, THE WAIL OF THE WORLD WAR 2 SIRENS LOCATED AT VIEWMOUNT AND ALLARDICE STREET, STONEHAVEN, WILL NO LONGER INDICATE TO COUNTY TOWN RESIDENTS THAT MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL RETAINED FIRE SERVICE ARE BEING SUMMONED TO A CALLOUT.
Like the sirens, the oft-familiar sight of the “part-timers” racing to the “old” station in Allardice Street in their cars, on their motorcycles or whatever will, after this weekend, be a thing of the past
For, on Monday the new fire station at Cruden Terrace/Newbigging Drive comes into operation – as does the new silent “bleeper” system of callout.
And that is something which is giving station of Station Officer Bill Ross no little cause for concern.
Because there will be no audible forewarning of the units turning out, he’s worried about the potential hazards to children playing on or around the main approach roads – i.e. Brickfield Road in particular, but also adjacent communicating streets – as his men drop whatever they are doing at the time and make their headlong dash for the new station.
So he has asked the “Leader” to alert parents, particularly those of the younger kiddies, to the need to impress upon their offspring that they must not, AT ANY TIME, play on or run across the access routes to the new location.
Station Officer Ross is not trying to pass the “proverbial buck.”. In other words, shoving the onus onto parents in the event of a potentially distressing accident occurring.

PERILS.

Be assured that the firemen themselves will be only too aware of the perils of the situation as they go helter skelter to their units – but children are unpredictable, and even the most competent driver’s reaction may not be swift enough to prevent a heart rendering mishap.
There’s another point. The forecourt to one side of the new fire station has become something of a playground for children; and, apart from that, youngsters do tend to gravitate towards the scene of what, to them, is the focus of exciting action.
Let’s face it – who among us, in our primary school days, did not thrill to the sound of a fire engine bell/siren/klaxon and, if we were in the near vicinity, did not make an immediate bee-line to watch the various units streak away to their destination?

MESSAGE

So Station Officer Ross’s message parents, especially those at the” top of the town” is:
WARN YOUR CHILDREN OFF. TELL THEM TO KEEP WELL CLEAR OF THE VICINITY OF THE NEW FIRE STATION. IMPRESS UPON THEM THAT THEY MUST NOT PLAY IN OR AROUND THE SURROUNDING FORECOURT OR FRONTAGE.
AND, ABOVE ALL, TO KEEP OFF THE MAIN APPROACH ROADS – WHICH THEY SHOULD ALREADY HAVE BEEN ADMONISHED TO DO IN ANY CASE!
(The Mearns Leader, Friday, February 22, 1980. Page 1)

Firemen at new Headquarters 

<Photo> Crew in front of station and two appliances. (a Ford D Series and a Dennis F26?)
Stonehaven Fire Brigade moved into their new £112,000 station at the Mill O’ Forest at the weekend, after 42 years in their Allerdice Street headquarters. As the two units left the old building, the towns fire siren – formally an air raid siren – also sounded for the last time since the crews have now been issued with radio bleepers for future call outs.
Posing for a souvenir photo in front of their new quarters and the two crews with Assistant Divisional Officer Robert McBeath (centre) Station Officer Bill Ross (right of centre) and Sub Officer Ian Davidson (left of centre).
(Press and Journal, Monday, February 25, 1980. Page 3)

Mearns fire brigade get the latest in tenders 

<Photo> Grampian Fire Service transport officer Mr Robert Brooks presents the keys for two new firefighting tenders to officer in charge of the Stonehaven fire service centre, Mr Bill Ross. Looking on are fellow fireman, fire service workshop foreman Mr Tom Stewart and apprentice mechanic William Simpson.
Stonehaven fire brigade have received a welcome “festive” present in the form of two new firefighting appliances valued at a total of more than £100,000.
After handing over the ignition keys to officer in charge, Mr. Bill Ross at Stonehaven station at Mill O’ Forest, Grampian Fire Service transport officer Mr Robert Brooks said that Stonehaven was the first retained station in the region to receive this facility.
He said that each Dodge machine cost £41,500 basic and had on them £10,000 worth of equipment each.
The tenders are powered by 8.8-litre V8 Perkins diesel engines with six speed gearbox and the latest ultra multipurpose pressure pumps.
There is also a full complement of road rescue gear on each appliance and the vehicles are fitted with Girling skid check mechanism and an anti-lock device on the brakes which prevents the wheels from locking and skidding
An unusual feature is the forward facing crew quarters. There is also built in breathing apparatus and seatbelts for all crew members.
(The Press and Journal, Saturday, December 29, 1984. Page 3)

Surprise, surprise for Stonehaven fire officer 

Stonehaven fireman Station Officer Bill Ross certainly sprang a surprise on his colleagues one drill night when he quietly announced his intention to “retire” – not only from his post, but from Grampian Fire Brigade of which he had been a member for 23 years.
So, just as quietly, the men decided to return the compliment and surprised him not only with a framed colour photo of the Stonehaven outfit but also with a “This Is Your Life” album of pictures.
Mr. Ross (46), 15 Taylor Crescent, Stonehaven, who is an overhead linesman with the Hydro Board, said yesterday he had been thinking about retiring for some time and had finally decided to sever his fire service association because he wanted more time with his family and also to have a chance of doing other things.
“I have enjoyed my time with the service,” he said.
He became sub officer in charge of the station in 1974 and five years later was appointed to the new post of station officer.
In 1986, Stonehaven represented with the Arbuthnott Award as the best retained station in the North-east and this year were runners up to Macduff in the same competition.
Mr Ross’s successor is his former deputy, electrician Mr Ian Davidson, 2a High Street, Stonehaven, who has 20 years’ service. New deputy is Sub Officer John Strachan, 124 Brickfield Road, who has 13 year service.
This year marks 130th anniversary of the Stonehaven Fire Brigade which was founded by Stonehaven Town Council.
<Photo> all change as new station officer Ian Davidson (left) hands over a framed photograph of the Stonehaven crew to Station Officer Bill Ross.
(Press and Journal, Tuesday, April 11, 1989. Page 27)

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