Firefighter leaders are demanding a halt to any further cuts to budgets across the UK as they prepare for the “next national emergency”.
The Fire Brigades Union wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warning about the impact of austerity.
It said fire crews have taken on more responsibilities as public services feel the impact of coronavirus.
In Scotland, the union said the fire service budget was cut by seven per cent in cash terms since regional brigades merged in 2013.
They had to absorb an 11 per cent cash drop in the first five years, before some increases in recent years.
The FBU said the recent Glasgow School of Art blaze showed the need for a well funded service, as well as the work being conducted since the tragic Grenfell tower fire in London.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “We cannot return to the failed politics of slashing services and then expecting them to spring into action when a crisis comes around.
“Brigades have been gutted by a decade of austerity but firefighters have nonetheless taken extraordinary steps to help the fight against coronavirus.
“They cannot be thanked with further cuts.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said an extra £6.1 million is being invested this year to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. It follows an increase of £15.5 million in 2018-19 and a further £5.5 million in 2019-20.
The spokeswoman added: “We will continue to press the UK Government to return the £50 million paid in VAT between 2013 and 2018. This funding would allow SFRS to do even more to keep our communities safe.”
