PRESS RELEASE 02.02.04

PREVENTION IS THE FUTURE FOR THE FIRE SERVICE

In response to the tragic events at Rosepark Care Home in Uddingston, the RFU offers its sincere condolences to the friends and families of those affected by this tragedy including the staff and management. Occurring in a modern well protected building as it did is a shock to everyone involved. Understandably emotions are running high and it is a natural reaction to attribute blame. The RFU would like to refrain from making any such unprofessional and insensitive comments.

The investigation which is now under way will at some stage provide lessons to be learned from the tragedy, lessons which may well have implications for similar premises throughout the UK, we await its findings.

This devastating event comes at a time in which the Fire Service is going through major changes through modernisation. Unfortunately the clear fact is that even with a greater number of appliances and personnel attending the aforementioned incident there is no guarantee that less lives would have been lost.

The RFU are committed to modernisation which does not endanger the public but reduces wasted funds and resources. There is only one way to provide a reduction in lives lost through fire related incidents and this is through effective prevention measures and education rather than the inevitable fire service response which too often has arrived on the scene to late to save lives despite the very best efforts of its personnel.

We are also aware that Michael Matheson MSP has submitted before Scottish Parliament a bill which would ensure, if passed, that all new Residential Premises are fitted with sprinklers, we are in the process of writing to Mr Matheson offering our support for this bill.