2006 Pods at station Damage Control DCU 3, Forestry Unit FU 3, Heavy Rescue HRU 3 and Incident Support ISU 3.

Pods on Station 2008
Damage 3
Support 3
Forestry 3

Altens fire station comes into operation

Grampian Region's new fire station at Altens, Aberdeen, came into operation yesterday.
Although it is now fully operational, with 41 full time staff, one water tender and ladder and a hydraulic platform life saving appliance, the official opening will not take place until next year.
By then the last of the work on the station will be complete.
The station commander is Assistant Divisional Officer Charles Coutts and the new building forms part of the South Division.
Anyone reporting a fire should still contact Grampian Fire Brigade HQ, but there is also an emergency line connecting the new station with the HQ.
(Aberdeen Press and Journal. 7th December, 1982. Page 3.)

Aberdeen’s New Station 97 – Altens.

With the rapid expansion to Aberdeen through oil and its related industries, it was decided that the fire cover for the city would need to be upgraded to cope with increasing industrial development to the south of the city.
A suitable location for a new full-time fire station, the first since the opening of the North Anderson Drive premises in 1968 had to be found. Souterhead Road in the Altens district of Aberdeen — four miles from the city centre, was deemed to be ideal, as it cut down on turnout times to incidents in the southern areas of the Aberdeen district.
Plans for the construction of this venture were drawn up by W. S. Scott, RIBA, ARAS, Director of Architectural Services for the Grampian Region, working in liaison with the local Fire Authority to determine the needs of a present day Fire Service. One of the main intentions was to produce the “Studio-Effect” minimising on space by creating duel purpose area, for example combining the kitchen and leisure area. Also provided in the layout is a lecture room, working areas and ample office space to allow the firemen to carry out the various ‘administrative’ tasks which is part of the present day curriculum.
Two appliances are ‘berthed’ at Station 97, a water tender with 13.5m lacon ladder, and a hydraulic platform with a cage capable of being raised to over 21 metres. Garage facilities are provided for these, with the provisions for building a third appliance bay if and when required. The customary drill tower features very much in the plans, testing the fireman against various fire ground situations.
Although the opening date for Altens is given as the 7th February, 1983, when it was officially opened by Councillor J. A. S. MacPherson C.B.E., Chairman of the Public Protection Committee for the region, A.D.O. Coutts, the Station Commander, and ‘B’ Watch actually became the first tenants on the 6th December, 1982.
It was not long until the first callout, that day in fact when Station Officer Rennie and his crew attended an incident in the Torry district of Aberdeen.
So at a cost of £606,000 and a station availability of 40, Station 97 Altens is fully functional and ready to meet local requirements when the situations arise.
<PHOHO> (Of the statioin)
<PHOTO> Grampian Firemaster Mr. Thomas Bond, with Councillor James McPherson, chairman of grampian regional Council’s Public Protection Committee, following the presentation of a silver figurine of a fireman rescuing a child, at the opening of the new station.
<PHOTO> Drill time at Altens. (HP & WrL at tower)
(Northern Light Edition No. 9. Page 21.)

Station Occupied                 6/12/1982
Official Opening                   7/2/1983

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.