THE Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has begun construction on Edinburgh’s first new fire station in more than 30 years.
It is the first in Scotland since the SFRS was formed 13 years ago.
The Liberton Community Fire Station on Kirk Brae will be demolished and rebuilt over the coming months, with the first works already underway.
The station was highlighted as a station of key strategic interest for the SFRS during analysis and simulation modelling, and will allow the service to more efficiently respond to emergencies across Edinburgh and the east of Scotland.
A timeline of 15-18 months for reconstruction has been outlined, and the current fire station will be closed for the duration.
While the station is closed, the fire appliance and its crew will be redeployed at a nearby temporary facility at Alnwickhill Road, with support provided by nearby stations like Newcraighall.
The community has been warned to expect an increase in fire appliance movements around Alnwickhill Road.
Area Commander David Dourley, SFRS Local Senior Officer for City of Edinburgh, said: “This is an exciting project and represents a significant investment to improve service delivery and firefighter safety.
“This will be the first new build station in Edinburgh in more than 30 years directly replacing the former station that has faithfully served our staff and the community for 50 years.
“The new station will be modern and fit for purpose and has been designed to meet operational demand and the growing needs of our communities.
“Once complete, operational efficiency, emergency response and engagement capabilities will be bolstered across Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.”
The project is part of a wider programme of works to address issues with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)-affected fire stations over the next five years.
Repair and upgrade work has already been completed at Galashiels, and repair and upgrade work at Livingston, and the rebuild of Dalkeith, are due to start soon.
It also follows a recent announcement of changes to around 30 fire stations across Scotland as part of the SFRS review that will see the repair or rebuild of a further five sites affected by RAAC.
The new station at Liberton will include upgraded welfare and decontamination facilities, and an improved community space. There will be specific areas for managing contaminated fire kit.
 has begun construction on Edinburgh's first new fire station in more than 30 years.){kind=link}