Establishment 2000

Broxburn firemen snub councillors

BROXBURN’S new Fire Station is scheduled to open on Saturday — in the middle of a blazing row.
For six of the ten retained part-timers have dampened the proceedings by refusing to turn out “on a matter of principle”.
The men claim that the dozen councillors who have been invited to the ceremony are nothing more than “parasites”.
One of the men, Sub. Officer Ian Muir, in charge of the station, said on Wednesday: “No councillors have been near this station in the two months we’ve been operational, but when there is free drink and food they swarm round like flies.
“The public are the people who are paying for this station and they should be coming to the opening instead.
“All the councillors are worried about is getting their picture in the paper and filling themselves full of drink.
“We do the same kind of public service as they do, but we don’t get all the perks. We have to pay for the wear and tear on our cars and our cleaning bills. We also get 40p in the pound off in tax whereas councillors get an allowance for attending the opening and certain tax allowances in their job.
“The Firemaster asked us to attend in full firefighting gear while the other four men went through the drill.
“But we refused. Why should we run around like a bunch of fairies for their enjoyment.”
Sub Officer Muir added that he will be “pulling out all the stops” at the Station’s open day next Sunday.
“This show is for the public, the people that matter,” he said.
Mr Douglas Close, Deputy Firemaster, Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade said that the whole thing was getting out of proportion. “It’s a pity that this has to happen on the one day that the town gets a first class fire station.
“There is no question of this turning into a binge. The station is being opened on a very low key with only 30 guests invited, including wives and families of the firemen.
“Because of financial cut-backs guests will only get one glass of sherry or whisky when they arrive. All the catering is being done within the brigade by volunteers.
(Lothian Courier, Friday, November 5, 1976. Page 18.)

Fire Station open day

<PHOTO> of the new station.
Sunday proved to be anything but a day of rest for Broxburn’s firemen, when they held an open day from 1 to 4 p.m. at their new Holygate Fire Station.
A long queue had formed 40 minutes before opening and at the end of three hours, at least 400 people had seen around the new premises, while most of the younger visitors had been around at least twice.
Fire Officer ‘A’ Division, Division Commander J. Welsh, gave the opening speech and a full local complement of 10 firemen had a hectic afternoon dealing with many questions and giving practical demonstrations of equipment. The Area Fire Prevention Officer from Laurieston, Station Officer Jim Brydon, besides many question and answer sessions, also gave a film show on Fire Prevention, mainly about the home, and demonstrated how to extinguish a chip pan fire, a demonstration he had to repeat several times, such was the interest shown.
The rescue of a person from a wrecked blazing car was also shown, plus the use of breathing apparatus to effect rescues from smoke filled burning rooms.
Several wet youths testified to the popularity of the competition for knocking targets down with jets of water, and the free tea and biscuits provided topped a great day out for everybody.
So successful was the day that many visitors requested that the open day become an annual event.
(Lothian Courier, Friday, November 19, 1976. Page 14.)

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