Fire & Ambulance Service

Dounreay Fire, Ambulance and Rescue Service is a full-time professional unit based at the site.

It provides round-the-clock cover for Dounreay and the neighbouring Vulcan nuclear site.

Additionally, it offers supports to the Scottish Ambulance Service when there is an emergency call nearby in the local community.

The availability of emergency services at all times is a key part of the operating regime of the site and its strategy for reduction and elimination of major chemical and radiological hazards.

While there are other emergency services located in Caithness, these cannot by guaranteed to fully meet the needs of the site.

For this reason, regulators stipulate that the on-site service at Dounreay must be capable of standing alone for two hours.

Dounreay meets this requirement with the support of off-duty personnel who are on call. Close liaison with the local emergency services and the regulators is necessary to ensure adequate arrangements are in place.

The unit is also involved in the provision of a range of services and participation in other activities on both sites. These include:

  • A range of special services such as dealing with chemical spills, pumping out flooding, general damage control and cleaning up spills which may impact on the environment
     
  • Fire safety services to ensure compliance with the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
     
  • Training of on-site personnel and members of the local emergency services
     
  • Services to ensure compliance with the Confined Space Regulations 1997
     
  • Services to ensure compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
     
  • Servicing of fire safety, general safety, confined space and site emergency equipment
     
  • Participation in the Dounreay and Vulcan site exercise programmes
     
  • Organising and participation in a programme of exercises with the external emergency services

All operations are carried out in accordance with National Fire Service Standards, Scottish Ambulance Service operating instructions and the DFA&RS working instructions.

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Image: Service personnel taking part in an emergency exercise

Service personnel taking part in an emergency exercise

Image: The emergency response is tested regularly at Dounreay

The emergency response is tested regularly at Dounreay

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Image: Fire-fighters on a joint exercise at Dounreay with colleagues from the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service

Fire-fighters on a joint exercise at Dounreay with colleagues from the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service

Image: Some of the emergency vehicles stationed at Dounreay

Some of the emergency vehicles stationed at Dounreay