'Totally irresponsible': Anger over Hawick fire service shake-up
Last updated 23rd Jun 2026
Firefighters will no longer be based at Hawick Fire Station overnight or at weekends under controversial changes approved by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), despite local opposition to the move.
The SFRS Board this week approved plans to introduce a new Day Shift Duty System (DSDS) at Howdenbank as part of its nationwide Service Delivery Review.
Under the new model, the station's first fire engine will be crewed by full-time firefighters during weekday daytime hours only; with evenings, nights and weekends covered by on-call firefighters.
A second appliance will continue to be staffed by on-call crews.
The decision has sparked anger among local politicians and campaigners, who argue the changes amount to a downgrading of fire cover in the town.
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Assistant Chief Officer David Farries told Greatest Hits Radio: "We'll continue with that 24/7 cover.
"The significant change is that we'll move to a Day Shift Duty System model, which means that we'll have wholetime firefighters in the station during the day on weekdays and then night-time and weekend cover will be provided by on-call firefighters.
"I think we understand that response times are increasing and any change of duty system, like the one we are proposing, is proportionate to the risk that exists within communities."
But he added: "We've got real confidence that this model will work. Hawick is the second quietest station in terms of demand in Scotland for stations of its type."
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It's understood between 12 and 17 firefighters could be redeployed elsewhere within the service, as part of the changes.
The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service say the move is being made as a result of the need to make “essential operational efficiencies and to address budget constraints”.
Board Chair Mhairi Wylie insists bosses have listened to the concerns raised, and will continue to monitor the impact of any changes.
But opponents remain unconvinced.
"Our town is absolutely reeling at the moment," local councillor Stuart Marshall told us. "They're outraged, they're appalled and they feel badly let down.
"Hawick is a town that's growing. We have a lot of new businesses that's set up here, we've got huge major employers now and we've got Center Parcs on the doorstep.
"A decision like this is ill thought out and it's totally irresponsible."
Following the board’s decisions, individual consultation will now be undertaken with each affected employee in line with existing SFRS policies and procedures.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Chief Officer Stuart Stevens said: “The Service Delivery Review is a critical programme to modernise how we work and deliver long-term sustainability.
“Its primary purpose is to ensure that we meet emerging risk and demand across Scotland, while enabling us to address urgent property issues.
“These changes are the start of a strategic redesign of the service to improve outcomes for the communities of Scotland."
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