A dedicated firefighter who has served and protected his community for almost three decades is now appealing for everyone’s support to help him find new crew members.
The fire station at Strachur has been forced to temporarily close because there are now only three available firefighters within the village, and a minimum crew of four is required to ensure they can respond safely and effectively to a range of different emergencies.
The station will re-open once new candidates have completed training.
In the meantime the Strachur crew will maintain their appliance and training whilst also carrying out prevention work, and fire cover will be provided by neighbouring stations.
Volunteer Leader Alistair MacKechnie is now calling on his community to help build a strong team for the future.
Married dad-of-two Alistair said: “I have been a firefighter for 28 years and, when I became leader two years ago, I carried out extensive recruitment efforts. I also ensured we had a presence at local events and actively encouraged people to join the station.
“I am finding it hard to face up to the fact that I presently cannot respond in our local area after nearly three decades on the job. It is all very well to get the appliance back on the run but I want to be more ambitious and build up a really strong team here in Strachur.”
Are you interested in joining the crew at Strachur?
VL MacKechnie and Firefighters Niall Anderson and Ian MacPhee – who have served the community for five years – will be available to answer any questions on Saturday, July 3 at the village station between 1pm and 3pm.
Contact Verina Litster in advance to arrange a booking slot on 07867 506 737. COVID-19 social distancing guidelines apply.
