Establishment 2000

Minimum crew required for an incident is 4

With the new brigade structure introduced in the summer of 2003 the 3 Divisions were re-organised into 2 Commands North and South, Carrbridge was put into South Command. Call signs remained the same.

The crew are called out by a call from control and then someone goes and manually operates the electric siren on top of the Police Station. The Police used to operate the siren but not now.

The present hut has double doors and the sides of the hut were made from the old wooden doors from Granton on Spey Fire Station.

The 2001 trailer contains:-
1         3 section ladder
1         portable pump
8         lengths domestic hose
           small gear

The old hut at the side of the Village Hall has been donated to the Playgroup.

In the 2002 Report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland he said the Brigade could be covered by 95 Units and finance would only be given for those 95. Carrbridge is one of the 32 units which is now under threat of closure.

In the Integrated Risk Management Planning Draft Review of the 32 'Non Strategic' Units it is recommended that this unit should be maintained adopting the role of a Community Response Unit (CRU). The unit should be provided with a vehicle which in the future will be referred to as a Community Response Vehicle (CRV). It is recognised that there have been a number of Road Traffic Accidents in the immediate and adjacent areas. The role of the unit should incorporate the capacity to respond to road traffic accidents, forming part of the initial Pre Determined Attendance. A fully equipped appliance, as support, will continue to be part of the initial Pre Determined Attendance. The unit should be provided with appropriate equipment and training to allow members to effectively contribute to preserving life at RTA’s. The role of the unit should incorporate the ability to respond to forest, moorland and grassfires (wildfires). The unit should be provided with appropriate equipment and training to allow members to effectively contribute to wildfire firefighting. The area within which the unit responds to wildfires should be extended beyond the current unit area and be based upon a wider ranging ‘regional response’ proposal. In this role, the unit may be required to respond to wildfires occurring throughout the Brigade's mainland area. The unit should be provided with appropriate training to allow members to effectively deliver Community Fire Safety education/information. The unit will be classed as Auxiliary support to the Brigade and time worked will be paid accordingly. The unit has attended 106 incidents in the period 1/4/1999 to 31/8/2004. If a dwelling fire occurs an adequately equipped resource would attend from Aviemore within 12 minutes.

Douglas Colin MacDonald, 50, is volunteer Watch Manager of the Carrbridge Community Response Unit. The Unit provides community safety advice, road traffic collision rescue and 'wildland' fire fighting skills to the Carrbridge and wider Lochaber area. The team are unfortunately regularly called out to attend serious road incidents on the A9 and their expertise in 'wildland' fire fighting is invaluable to the Lochaber area which boasts several ancient woodlands.
His leadership and commitment to the Unit are outstanding and all the more remarkable considering his family commitments. Mr MacDonald has one daughter and a son, Craig, who suffers from Dravet Syndrome, and needs constant care and supervision. In 2003, the volunteer unit faced the threat of closure as Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate, the Health and Safety Executive. Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service sought to bring about changes aimed at improving the safety of personnel. Supported by his wife, Mr MacDonald petitioned and engaged successfully with all the relevant agencies and MSPs, helping to ensure that the future of the unit was properly considered. As a result, the Unit was established as one of the first Community Response Units in the UK.
Mr MacDonald combines his voluntary work with the full-time job of owning and running the local petrol station. He is well known and respected in the area and has previously represented the UK in international junior ski competitions.
(Scottish Government Biographies 31/12/2008)

CARRBRIDGE FIRE STATION

OPENING CEREMONY

Friday 25^th September 2009

1900 hours

Chief Fire Officer’s Welcoming Address: 

Welcome to all our guests and friends at the opening of the newly built Fire Station at Carrbridge.
The Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service is determined to make our communities safer. Our Firefighters at Carrbridge do this through providing Community Safety advice and a Community Response Service to Road Traffic Accidents and Wildfires. In recent years the station and its personnel have gone through a challenging period of change and development. They have been proactive and determined in shaping their own future and it is testament to the Firefighters, their supporters and the good community spirit in Carrbridge, that the Unit is currently thriving and providing an excellent service from its new station in the heart of the village.
I admire the resilience and resourcefulness of the team in Carrbridge and I am absolutely confident that in the years to come they will continue to grow and develop. Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service is a community based organisation and the Firefighters could not provide the commitment they do without the support of their families. It is therefore fitting that today’s official opening will be performed by Mrs Bunty MacDonald who has worked tirelessly to secure the units long term future.
Many thanks to everyone for attending and supporting our very special team here in Carrbridge. 

Brian A Murray
Chief Fire Officer 

•              DISTRICT OFFICER’S INTRODUCTION:
                Station Manager Graham Clark 

•              CHIEF FIRE OFFICER’S ADDRESS
                Brian A Murray 

•              OFFICER IN CHARGE’S ADDRESS:
                Watch Manager Dougie MacDonald 

•              OFFICIAL OPENING:
                Mr Richard Durham
                Fire Board Convener

                Mrs Bunty MacDonald 

•              STATION BLESSING:
                Reverend David Whyte 

•              BUFFET for 2000 hours
                The Village Hall, Carrbridge.

HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE 

HELPING MAKE THE

HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS A SAFER AND BETTER PLACE TO LIVE 

www.hifrs.org

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.

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