Ayr's MSP has described the Station Hotel fire as "heartbreaking" - but insisted that recent fire service cuts made no impact on the fight to save the building.

Siobhian Brown, who is also the Scottish Government's Community Safety Minister, had been attacked by Fire Brigade Union members who claimed the loss of Ayr's high reach fire appliance in the last few months hampered the bid to tackle the blaze.

Today, she told Ayrshire Weekly Press: "Like the rest of our community, I have found it heartbreaking to witness this historic building be neglected for so many years, and now severely damaged by fire.

“Following the response to the fire on Monday night, I have been receiving regular updates from the Scottish Fire Rescue Service (SFRS) and met with the Scottish Fire Rescue head of operations and deputy chief fire officer late Tuesday night for a detailed brief on the incident.

Read more: https://www.ayradvertiser.com/news/23814869.loss-high-reach-equipment-hit-bid-save-hotel/

“The SFRS does not agree with claims that the recent removal of the high-reach appliance from Ayr was detrimental to the outcome of the fire.

"The SFRS made an operational decision to remove older dual fire engine/high reach appliances and replace them with fully designated fire engines or fully designated high reach appliances.

"There was a local operational decision to remove the older high-reach appliance from Ayr and re-locate it to Kilmarnock. Ayr received a new fire appliance in replacement and there have been no staff losses locally at Ayr fire station."

Ms Brown continued: "For clarity, high-reach appliances are operationally used when all operational tactics have failed to control a fire internally.

"Once the flames have broken through the roof, there is a high likelihood of loss of the building and at that stage, high-reach appliances are brought operationally to tackle fire from height, to ensure no further spread to neighbouring buildings.

"Every incident is approached by operational decisions on each case by the experts on the ground.

"Had the Station Hotel been a well-managed, functioning hotel, with smoke and fire alarms in place, the SFRS would have approached the fire in a very different manner and of course, would have been alerted a lot quicker."

Ayr Advertiser: The Station Hotel fire

The MSP said: “When the SFRS arrived on the scene at the former Station Hotel, they assessed and made operational decisions. This included that the blaze was well underway internally, and it was a derelict building where there was no “life risk”.

"Due to the uncertainty of the internal structure of the building and the safety of surrounding scaffolding, they made an operational decision not to tackle the blaze internally, as to do so would have put firefighters at unnecessary life risk.

“I have had assurance from SFRS that the high-reach appliance’s arrival at the scene – no matter where it came from would have had no consequence on the outcome of this type of fire.

“Fifteen appliances from the Scottish operational network worked to battle the blaze and I have thanked all the hard-working, exceptional firefighters and other emergency service staff who worked through the night.

"I am thankful to them and that there has been no loss of life or injuries. I understand three people have now been arrested in relation to the incident.

“While we continue to assess the situation, I am once again offering to work with all authorities and politicians, regardless of their political party, to ensure there is a long-term resolution for the area that will service our town."

The SNP MSP concluded: "While September 25, 2023 will be remembered as a sad night for our community, it is now time for us to move forward with a positive plan.

"You have my assurance that as your constituency MSP, I will do whatever I can in my power to achieve this.”