kennymacaskillThe first Scottish tri-emergency service station has opened in the Highlands town of Tomintoul, providing a base for the local force alongside ambulance, and fire and rescue services.

Chief Officer Alasdair Hay, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Scotland's emergency services have a long and proud tradition of working together, frequently responding in unison to rescue and care for people in their time of need but also working collaboratively to find new ways of preventing accidents and emergencies from occurring in the first place.

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He continued: "This shared facility at Tomintoul will ensure that fire, police and ambulance can build on their partnership approach to ensuring that local communities continue to receive excellent levels of service from their emergency responders and that best practice and resources are shared effectively to respond to local needs."

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill (pictured) added: "The tri-emergency service station is the latest in a series of investments both Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have made across the North of Scotland.

“These collaborative facilities are creating jobs, strengthening the response to emergency incidents, improving community safety and ensuring our emergency services have a robust footprint right across the north of Scotland.” 

For more on this story, including quotes from the Scottish chiefs of fire and ambulance visit www.fire-magazine.com and www.ambulancenews.com