Sub or Stn.O in charge?

The station at Benbecula was not a purpose built station, it belonged to Western Isles Council before being taken over by the Fire Board in 1979 approx. Before this time the appliance was stored at an MOD building at close by camp. (Sub Officer Alasdair MacVicar, 2003.)

In 2003 there was a problem with the roof in the right hand bay and as a result the second appliance was kept in a garage at the airport until it was repaired.

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

Benbecula had a call sign of B7 in The Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service, this was changed to U30, the new National Call Sign, when the Control at Inverness closed on 6/12/2016 and moved to Dundee.

Benbecula Fire Station 30th anniversary
The evening of Saturday 4th of February saw a gathering of fire fighters both past and present coming together to celebrate over 30 years of service to the communities of Benbecula and throughout the Uists, congregating in the Dark Island Hotel, Liniclate. A selection of fire fighters from throughout the Islands along with their guests enjoyed an evening of great music, good food and dancing.
Opening the nights festivities Sub Officer Alasdair MacVicar thanked everyone for coming along and asked only one thing “that everyone had a good time” - and so they did.
During the night music provided by Nolly and John Alec kept everyone on their toes with the Chief Fire Officer Mr. Murray being tempted up for a quick spin.
A competition to guess how many fire calls Benbecula crews had attended over the years from the very first one to the latest one was won by Mrs. Isobel Graham (Orasay Inn). Isobel guessed to within 13 (lucky for her) of the 2986 fire calls with an answer of 2999. Strange to think of the coincidence, that in over the 30 years of service to the community nearly 3000 calls had been attended.
As the evening progressed a second competition was actively participated in to attempt the winning of a bottle of fine spirit ‘won of course by the chief fire officer’ shouted from the floor came the words “fix” but all was fair in the fire service and the chief ensured everyone was sorted out with a wee dram.
Good food, good company and the thoughts of ‘what will they do for the 40th?’
(Archive News H&I web site) 

Benbecula Fire Fighters to meet the Queen
Sub Officer Alasdair MacVicar and Leading Fire Fighter Donald MacIsaac are to be presented to Her Majesty the Queen during a ceremony to be held in Buckingham Palace during February, they will be accompanied by Assistant Divisional Officer Alan Rayner who found himself dealing with the storms of January 2005, alongside the crew from Benbecula Fire Station as well as crews from across the Uist's.
They will be joining other emergency service personnel and rescue workers from across both the UK and other areas of the world in order to be recognized for their efforts and commitment.
The ceremony to be held during the evening of the 15th of February will recognise not only the work carried out by the 500 representatives present but the continuing work carried out throughout the emergency services by all emergency service personnel UK wide.
(Archive News H&I web site)

Benbecula blazes a winning trail 

<PHOTO> Highlands and Islands fire chief Brian Murray, pictured left, with Benbecula Fire Brigade who won the fire and rescue competition in Fort William last Saturday. fl6fire3 

Benbecula Fire Brigade won the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Championships in Fort William last Saturday.
Twelve teams of five competed in the event which involved extricating ‘casualties’ from a simulated vehicle accident scenario. Teams were judged on their speed, tool operating, medical aspects and commanding.
Benbecula team commander Donald MacIsaac said it was a great achievement for a team from such a small area. Mr MacIsaac estimated Benbecula Fire Brigade had around 180 call-outs each year. ‘We’re cornpeting as a team for the first time this year, so it’s an amazing feeling to win,’ he told The Oban Times.
Other teams to compete included Fort William, Spean Bridge, Acharacle and Kyle.
Highlands and Islands fire chief Brian Murray said he was thrilled with the standard of teams who took part cand believed Highlanders were receiving a quality service.
‘Seven out of ten road accidents happen on rural roads and in the Highlands and islands we get out fair share to deal with. The number of road accidents are increasing each year, so it’s really important that our fire brigades are fully prepared to deal with them,’ he said.
Fort William Fire Brigade is known as one of the best in the UK and is likely to be competing in the World Fire and Rescue Championships in Cardiff on July 12.
Watch manager Chris Finlay said the team was awaiting final confirmation from organisers.
The top Scottish fire team in 2007, Fort William attends around 400 call outs each year. Other members of the Fort William team are medics David Rogers and Fraser MacDonaId, tool operators Martin McKenna and Clint MacLeod.
(The Oban Times, Thursday, April 17, 2008. Page 2)

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