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| Cup match fire crew claim probed | Cup match fire crew claim probed |
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| A fire service is investigating claims that some firefighters were unavailable on Saturday because they were watching the Scottish Cup semi-final. | A fire service is investigating claims that some firefighters were unavailable on Saturday because they were watching the Scottish Cup semi-final. |
| The claim centres on the part-time station in Dingwall. The Highland town's First Division team Ross County beat Celtic 2-0 at Hampden. | The claim centres on the part-time station in Dingwall. The Highland town's First Division team Ross County beat Celtic 2-0 at Hampden. |
| Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service (HIFRS) said it had received a complaint from the public. | Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service (HIFRS) said it had received a complaint from the public. |
| The service said the complaint regarded the availability of fire appliances. | The service said the complaint regarded the availability of fire appliances. |
| Dingwall councillor and fire board member, Margaret Davidson, said the volunteer firefighters were dedicated to their jobs and believed they would have gone through the proper channels so cover was provided. | |
| In a statement, HIFRS said: "The chief fire officer expects all Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service fire stations and their fire appliances to be available for operational duty at all times. | In a statement, HIFRS said: "The chief fire officer expects all Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service fire stations and their fire appliances to be available for operational duty at all times. |
| "Given the geography and rural nature of communities across the Highlands and Islands area, many fire stations are staffed by firefighters who are contracted to the retained duty system." | "Given the geography and rural nature of communities across the Highlands and Islands area, many fire stations are staffed by firefighters who are contracted to the retained duty system." |
| HIFRS said part-time based fire stations have a compliment of 12 or 20 firefighters to crew one or two fire appliances. | HIFRS said part-time based fire stations have a compliment of 12 or 20 firefighters to crew one or two fire appliances. |
| Each vehicle requires a minimum of four firefighters to crew it. | Each vehicle requires a minimum of four firefighters to crew it. |
| The statement added: "The service has received a complaint from a member of the public regarding the availability of fire appliances from Dingwall, on Saturday 10 April 2010. | The statement added: "The service has received a complaint from a member of the public regarding the availability of fire appliances from Dingwall, on Saturday 10 April 2010. |
| "The service is carrying out an investigation into this complaint." | "The service is carrying out an investigation into this complaint." |