A partnership has formed between Ayr Community Fire Service and Galloway Mountain Rescue Team.
Galloway Mountain Rescue Team will house a state-of-the-art 4×4 ambulance at Ayr Community Fire Station.
The volunteer-led organisation will have the benefit of their own bay and dedicated space within the station. This will allow rescue teams going to help people in difficulty to have increased capability to respond to incidents within the area.
Galloway Mountain Rescue Team is a charity run by volunteers who rely on public support.
While the team is proficient in mountain rescue, they are also trained to help people in difficulty across all terrains and weather conditions. Their team has a fully trained water rescue section and having this capability will also bring a valued resource to Ayr Community Fire Service.
At present, Galloway Mountain Rescue Team also work alongside other emergency partners where they could be called on to help Police Scotland look for missing persons and to assist Scottish Ambulance Service to reach people who may be caught on roads during heavy snowfalls.
Currently, the 38-strong team, provide search and rescue services in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire, operating from a base in Newton Stewart.
Since their inception in 1975 they have responded to hundreds of incidents across south west Scotland.
Local Senior Officer for East, North and South Ayrshire, Ian McMeekin, said: “Protecting the public is at the heart of everything we do and this is another example of the great partnerships between emergency services benefiting our communities.
“We also understand that the Galloway Mountain Rescue Team is a volunteer-led charity, and we are happy to play our part in assisting their work where we can.
“This 4×4 ambulance is state-of-the-art, and it’s an important resource which has been made available to increase rescue capabilities within the Ayrshire area.”
Search Manager, Galloway Mountain Rescue Team, Eric Johns, said: “Although we are Galloway Mountain Rescue – our area is vast and extends into Ayrshire. We needed a base to enable us to make our services more available in the north of our territory. This partnership with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service allows us to reach more people more efficiently. In addition to this, it allows us to work together with SFRS and gives reassurance to local communities that their safety is a priority.”
This is not the first time SFRS have partnered with the Galloway Mountain Rescue Team. They also currently share space within Castle Douglas Fire Station.
