Fire chiefs have moved to reassure the public that appliances being redeployed from Dundee to Aberdeen will have no impact on safety.
Local senior officer Gordon Pryde presented the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s quarterly report to members on Monday evening, days after The Courier revealed Dundee fire crews have been sent to Aberdeen to provide cover.
The council also added its assurances regarding cladding safety at Dudhope Court, following an investigation by The Courier which showed multis in Dundee and Fife were constructed with materials that fail to meet standards recommended by the Scottish Government’s fire safety experts.
The Dundee multi has been fitted with a high pressure laminate (HPL) cladding. The material is combustible and has been linked to the 2009 Lakanal House fire in south-east London, which killed six people.
Niall Rowan, chief executive officer for the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, said Dudhope “will never meet A2 (the standard for limited combustibility) because there is too much organic material”.
Executive director of neighbourhood services Elaine Zwirlein said: “It is important to reiterate how important the safety of our tenants is to us.
“The council took to great lengths to check and carried out practically intrusive surveys in the wake of the Grenfell disaster.
“We made assurances to tenants in Dudhope and undertook further surveys to reassure people these homes are safe and our staff will continue to conduct checks to make sure they are safe.”
Ms Zwirlein added further information was being provided to tenants following The Courier’s investigation.
Fire safety drop in sessions have also been organised by the council and the fire service.
An amendment put forward by Lochee Labour representative Councillor Michael Marra wished to instruct the council chief executive to raise concerns about possible emergency provision shortages in Dundee, as well as concerns regarding a “black hole” in funding.
It was narrowly voted down by members 15 votes to 14, the deciding vote being cast by Lord Provost Ian Borthwick in favour of a council motion brought by convener Alan Ross to dismiss the amendment.
Mr Marra said: “There have been significant problems in Aberdeen which has lead to resources in Dundee being taken up there.
“We are of course confident in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service officers’ ability to handle resources across Scotland, but we want to ensure lives are protected in Dundee and we should make sure such practices which could lead to a shortage are noted.
“We have to put this in context of the £100 million black hole the fire service is facing.
“If it is going to be the case resources are taken away from Dundee we have to put a marker down now.
“It is appropriate to ask these questions and help support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service area manager Gordon Pryde said: “We have in place a number of mechanisms which helps make sure there are procedures in place for resilience across Scotland.
“As a national service we can bend and flex to serve these area (which require cover).
“For example, we were required to send extra resources from outwith Glasgow area to manage the Glasgow School of Art fire.
“We do look to have a pragmatic approach to make sure the right appliances are in place.
“There has been previous cover of appliances from Dundee in Aberdeen, but appropriate cover has been kept in Dundee when this has happened.
“There are always six appliances (on alert) covering the city and if more are needed there can be cover provided from other local areas, including Perth and Kinross, Angus and parts of Fife.
“We can of course bring resources from anywhere in Scotland.”
Mr Ross said: “This is exactly what a national service has been designed to do, the proof is this example, it has done what it says on the side of the tin.
“The purpose of the single force is that we can help other areas like Aberdeen out.”
