Plans for a new fire station for Ayr Corporation, which is estimated to cost £3800, have been passed by the Dean of Guild Court.
(The Scotsman, October 15, 1929, page 7)

NEW FIRE STATION OPENING CEREMONY

The extraordinary fact that the more money that is spent on fire fighting and the more efficient the service becomes the more fires take place was commented upon by Mr Daniel Sim, Kilmaurs, convener of Ayr County Council, when with Provost William Cowan, Ayr, he shared the opening ceremony at the new Ayr fire station and headquarters of the South West of Scotland Joint Fire Service on Thursday of last week.
Provost Cowan expressed the view that the standard of efficiency in the area can compare favourably with that of any brigade in the country.
Provost John Richmond, Galston, chairman of the joint committee, presided at the opening ceremony which was attended by a large number of local authority members and officials and representatives of neighbouring fire authorities.
Recalling the great progress made in the build up of firefighting efficiency since the regional scheme came into being shortly after the war, Mr Sim said "Yet the more efficient the fire service becomes, the greater number of fires take place. That is rather curious but nevertheless it happens."
Figures quoted by the county convener to demonstrate this were: 1954 – 1139 fire calls, 1956 – 1449, 1960 – 1532, 1962 – 1798.
Estimated cost for the area this year was over £300,000 and the debt amounted to £9 million.
After complimenting the service for its high standard of efficiency, Provost Cowan said that his own council had been delighted when it was decided that the new headquarters should be established in the town.
The decision was taken as far back as 1952 but there had been delay because of restrictions on capital expenditure. He regarded the situation as first class – accesible to all main roads of the town and also to the new bypass road.
A dedication ceremony conducted by the Rev. A. J. Scruby, Wallacetown Church, Ayr, followed. Then the county convener and the Provost formally opened the station by ringing the alarm bell and unveiling a commemorative plaque.
A tour of the station was organised by Firemaster H. R. McKay.
(Ayrshire Post Friday June 7, 1963. Page 15.)

Mock Alarm Call Launches Most Modern Fire Station
AREA H.Q. NOW SETTLED IN AYR 

Mr. Daniel Sim, Convener Ayr County Council, and Provost William Cowan, of Ayr, opened the new £100,000 headquarters station of the South Western Area Fire Brigade in Ayr on Thursday of last week by ringing the alarm bell and unveiling a commemorative plaque. A crew of smartly turned out firemen stood by and jumped aboard a scarlet fire engine as the bell rang. The appliance swung out of the station in record time to start “dummy run.”
This new 4-bay station has been provided partly to meet the need for headquarters accommodation suitable to the requirements of this fire area which comprises the Counties of Ayr, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown, including the large burghs of Ayr, Dumfries and Kilmarnock, and partly to replace the existing fire station at Sandgate, Ayr, which, as a result of the development of the Fire Service over the years, has become increasingly unable to provide either the accommodation for men and machines which is essential in a modern fire station or the training facilities which have been made necessary by modern fire fighting techniques.

Efficiency

Speaking at the opening, Mr. Sim said that statistics showed that the more efficient the fire service became the greater the number of fires which took place. In 1954 calls dealt with totalled 1139. Two years later the figure was 1449. Then in1960 there were 1532 calls and last year the total was 1798.
“The people who are responsible for causing the fires,” added Mr. Sim, “are liable to take advantage now that this building is available and we can look forward to an ever increasing number of fires year by year.”
The South Western Fire Area Joint Board estimated that £300,000 would be spent on the Fire Service this year. This was a very considerable amount of money coupled with the fact that they were well over £9 million pounds in debt for the provision of the service in the south western area. They could look forward to paying a heavy rate to maintain the Fire Service.

Essential

But Mr. Sim stressed that the Fire Service was absolutely essential. They had to pay tribute to the men in the Fire Brigade in the various parts of the area which the Board covered.
“They do an excellent job,” added Mr. Sim, “and on very many occasions do it at the risk of their own lives. They always leave a job well done. It is very necessary that there should be good relations between the Board and the firemen and I think I can say at the moment there are quite good relations between the Board and the firemen.”
The Fire Service had moved forward in the post war years. In his village, (Kilmaurs) they once had a brigade which was a box built on wheels. It was drawn by a pony. And Mr. Sim added with a smile: “I believe that in the earlier stages the firemen were summoned by post card.

Accessible

Provost Cowan said that the standard of efficiency of the South Western Brigade had been built up to a level which would compare favourably with that of any brigade in the country.
“I hope I don’t offend my Kilmarnock friends, but it is my personal opinion that Ayr is the most suitable geographical location for the headquarters station. It is an attractive area readily accessible to all the main traffic routes. When the Town Council’s plan for a ring road are completed the place will occupy a position which must, be as near perfect as one could wish.”
The Provost thanked the Joint Committee for all that they had done in pressing for completion of the building.
Mr. W. Thrower, Scottish Home and Health Department, offered congratulations from his department on completion of the job. It was a credit to the Board. The facilities at the new headquarters were really first class.

Appreciation

He had a special word of thanks for the Firemaster of the South Western Area, Mr. H R. McKay. “He gives a lot of help to our department. We do appreciate what Mr. Mackay does for us.”
Later Mr. Thrower said: “I hope the Ayr firemen won’t regret the changeover from their old station to this place where they have the Firemaster to keep his eye on them. But perhaps your loss is Kilmarnock’s gain.”
Provost John Richmond, Galston, chairman of the Board, who presided, said that the station had had two calls since it opened at 8 a.m. on Wednesday of last week. The first one was a call to Prestwick and the second was to a house in George Street, Ayr, where firemen rescued two people from the roof.
A short dedication service was conducted by the Rev. A. J. Scruby, Wallacetown Parish Church.
After the opening ceremony guests toured the premises and had a buffet tea in the firemen’s recreation room. Police Judge H. Jamieson, Dumfries, vice chairman of the Board, proposed a vote of thanks.
The site of the new premises is in the roundabout facing the Civic Theatre in Craigie Road and also opposite the new technical college (still under construction) and remodelled Darn Park Hall and stadium.
It is a 4 bay station, provided with a pump escape, heavy water tender, a 100 feet mechanically operated turntable ladder and A.F.S. pump appliances, a hoes reel tender which tows a light pump, a tipper lorry and a station officer’s radio van.

Recreational

The top floor of the three storey building is used by operational personnel, with sleeping, cooking, dining room, recreational and study accommodation.
The drill yard has a drill and hose drying tower and hose target, and is flanked by lock up garages, smoke chamber, stores, cycle shed, electricity sub station and a separate dwelling house overlooking the river embankment.
The area control room is located immediately alongside the appliance room and adjoining the entrance hall to the administration b1ock. It is the control centre for 36 stations, including this headquarters station. It has a console controlling radio, DX, fire bells, loud speakers, emergency lighting, G.P.O. and internal telephones. The south western fire area is shown on a magnetised map on one wall of the control room and a recording board is positioned on one side. The console is linked with the automatic fire alarm system in operation throughout the town.
It is the most modern fire station in Scotland and is only the second headquarters to be built under the post war programme, the other being at Inverness.
(Kilmarnock Standard, Saturday, June 8, 1963. Page 7)

Ayr & District Directory Fire Station 13, Sandgate, Firemaster 15, Sandgate.

1975 Ayr was also the Divisional Headquarters of D division.

The risk of fire, which these Town Acts recognised, persuaded the council to make special provision. Something had obviously been attempted before 1796 when it was noted that ‘the fire engines’ were insufficient, and it was decided to purchase a new one from London, similar to that which the army had in the new barracks, and which had efficiently extinguished a recent conflagration in the town.
(The History of Ayr, Royal Burgh and County Town by John Strawhorn. Page 85.)

Thus the first motor fire engine purchased in 1914 was supplemented by two others, acquired in 1921 and 1927.
(The History of Ayr, Royal Burgh and County Town by John Strawhorn. Page 229.)

<PHOTO> SANDGATE FIRE STATION – The Fire Station at 13 Sandgate was opened in 1930, at a cost of £8,074, designed by T. O’Beirne. This picture shows the firemen around that time. Back left to right: T. Dunn, F. Hastings, P. Tierney, Ross, P. Duncan, M. Ivory. Middle: A. MacEwen, H. Dunn, T. Ivory, J. Morrison, J. Cooper, J. Neil, I. MacGregor, A. Dalton, T. Bruce. Front: Deputy Convener Bowie, Firemaster Galloway, T. Murray and Provost James Gould. Previously the station was located in the close behind the house. The first motorised engine had been purchased in 1914, followed by others in 1921 and 1927.
(Pictorial History of Ayr. Page 91.)

<PHOTO> NEW FIRE STATION – The present fire station is located at the junction of John Street and Station Road, previously the site of Content House. It was erected in 1963, the tall tower used for both practising and for the drying of hosepipes. Stone from Content House was used in the construction of some of the walls. The architects of the fire station were J & JA Carrick. The South Western Area Fire Brigade, which covered the four counties of south west Scotland, was instituted in 1948.
(Pictorial History of Ayr. Page 99.)

<PHOTO> FIRE FIGHTING – The South Western Area Headquarters and Fire Station was opened on 10^th May, 1963 (Don’t know where that date came from!) jointly by Daniel Sim, Convenor of Ayr County Council, and William Cowan, Provost of Ayr. Built on the site of Content House, the station replaced the old one in the Sandgate. The photograph shows firemen at work tackling a blaze in the High Street on the 29^th June, 1977. An electrical fault in the basement of Greenlees’ shop caused a fire which spread into neighbouring cellars and up into “Tramps”.
(Pictorial History of Ayr. Page 99.)

REDEDICATION
OF
AYR FIRE STATION

22nd September 2004

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS

PLATFORM PARTY ASSEMBLES

INTRODUCTIONS
Assistant Firemaster K. Small
(Commander West Command)

FIREMASTER’S OPENINGS REMARKS
Firemaster B. P Sweeney MA, DipEFEng, MiFireE

RE-DEDICATION CEREMONY
Councillor J. Lowe
Convener, Strathclyde Fire Board

RE-DEDICATION OF STATION
Reverend A. Goss
Father J. Thomson

FIREMASTER’S CLOSING REMARKS
Firemaster B. P Sweeney MA, DipEFEng, MIFireE

AYR FIRE STATION

Councillor Daniel Sim, Kilmaurs, Convener of Ayrshire, and Provost William Cowan, Ayr, jointly performed the opening ceremony in 1963 of Ayr Fire Station and Headquarters of the South West of Scotland Joint Fire Service at Station Road. This new station replaced the Sandgate Station which has served the people of Ayr since 1930.
Headquarters’ staff, including the control room personnel who govern the movement of units in all stations of the area, also moved into the new premises from the old headquarters at Kilmarnock.
Representatives of local authorities and neighbouring fire authorities were among the guests.
Ayr fire station is the second station to undergo major refurbishment as part of the Brigades station upgrading programme.
The consultation process involved all the relevant stakeholders including Command HQ, Station personnel, and representative bodies.
The refurbishment work included the following provision - electrical rewire, new boiler plant and heating, new plumbing, double glazed windows and curtain walling, dignified facilities, disabled access, kitchen, toilet and shower facilities upgrade, fire and security alarm installation, powered rear bay doors, internal and external redecoration, furniture replacement and ancillary works.
The contract was awarded to D. Campbell & Co Ltd, Rutherglen who commenced the refurbishment works in November 2001 with completion in early July 2002. The station had to remain operational at all times during the contract, with operational personnel being housed in temporary accommodation units within the rear station yard.
Tonight’s ceremony represents the completion of another major project demonstrating the commitment of the Strathclyde Fire Board to the local community.

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

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