Establishment 2000

Duns had a call sign of 48 in Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, this was changed to J26, the new National Call Sign on 3/5/2017.

CALLING FIRE SERVICES

The action by the Fire Service is: assuming the fire call to be received at Duns, the local exchange sounds the alarm, gives the address to Duns Fire Station, then notifies Galashiels who turn out on arrival at the fire, the officer in charge of the Duns appliance has to form an assessment of his requirements and if he needs more appliances he telephones Galashiels which will send the next nearest appliances to the number required. Fires requiring more than the normal attendance of two appliances are attended by officers from the whole-time service, or when specifically asked for by the officer in charge of the fire incident.
(The Berwickshire News, Tuesday, April 27, 1954. Page 6)

Duns Fire Brigade under Sub Officer Gillies dealt with a fire at Mungos Walls Farm pumphouse, on the banks of the Blackadder. There was no serious damage as a result of the outbreak
(Berwickshire News, Tuesday, August 21, 1956. Page 1)

New Duns Fire Station urgently needed 

Councillor Miss D. Burns found no secondes when she moved an amendment to a minute of the Housing Committee at Duns Town Council on Monday, which dealt with the site for a new fire station at Duns.
The Housing Committee reported they had received a letter from the Firemaster, South Eastern Fire Brigade, seeking the co-operation and assistance of the Town Council in obtaining a site for a new fire station in Duns.

Sale of land

The Town Clerk reported he had had a call from the firemaster who pointed out that the provision of a new station in Duns was a matter of urgency. He indicated that a site on the north part of the Brierybaulk housing site would be very suitable, and he enquired whether the Council would be willing to sell a piece of land there.
The committee agreed to consider the firemaster’s request sympathetically and agreed that they would be willing to enter into negotiations for the sale of a piece of ground approximately 100 feet by 70 feet in size, subject to the conditions that they received authority from the Department of Health to dispose the ground, and that the type of buildings to be erected was satisfactory.
Coun. Miss Burns objected to the proposal that the fire station be at Brierybaulk. This site, she said, was kept for housing.
Bailie A. Tait said the housing committee were aware of the point raised. The reason the fire authorities requested a central site was for speedy assembly. It would only take the space of one block of houses.
(The Berwickshire News, Monday, November 12, 1956. Page 7)

The new fire station at Newtown Street, Duns was completed during the year and the Brigade took occupation on 26th April.
(SEAFB Firemasters report 1960)

Duns Fire Brigade

“… On the 20^th March 1958 a brand new fire engine, a water tender ladder was delivered to Duns. It carried 400 gallons of water and had a 45ft ladder. The tender had a built-in pump and a small portable pump. This was a self-contained unit carrying men and equipment. On 25^th April 1960 the new fire station was opened in Newtown Street. In 1967 two-way radio was fitted in the Duns appliance…”
(An article called ‘Duns Fire Brigade’ in a Duns 500^th anniversary brochure from 1990.)

September 2021, the station appears to have an extension on the left hand side. I think there used to be day manning? for a while at the station and this might have been built for that?

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