Emergency services / Fire fighter recruitment drive a big success
Shetland group manager Matt Mason told Tuesday’s meeting of the local community safety and resilience board that this level of response was “unheard of in any recruitment area”.
Twenty one out of the 33 applicants have been offered contracts and are due to attend training in the coming weeks.
Some these are in areas in Shetland chronically under-staffed when it comes to retained fire fighters.
Fetlar has one new member, while there are also new recruits for Fair Isle and Brae.
Mason said Shetland is “leading the way nationally” when it comes to recruiting retained fire fighters.
Two extra full-time staff members are also being recruited for Shetland, one of which will be a new station manager.
A report presented to members of the community safety and resilience board, meanwhile, stated that 28 per cent of all call activity in Shetland in the first quarter for 2019/20 related to false alarms.
The majority of unwanted fire alarm signals emanated from Lerwick.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
