The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) handled almost 700 calls and attended 699 incidents across Scotland over the weekend of Storm Boelo, the service reported on Monday 26 October1. Of those incidents, 163 were weather-related1.
From Saturday 24 until Monday 26 October, firefighters, Operations Control staff and other specialist rescue teams responded to emergencies including road traffic collisions, fallen trees, damaged power cables, debris and unsafe structures1. In Saltcoats in North Ayrshire, firefighters worked from Sunday night to pump millions of litres of floodwater away that had surrounded a care home; a high-volume pump was mobilised to support the operation, and emergency services remained in attendance on Monday 26 October1.
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Ross Robison said:
"Storm Boelo brought a challenging period for communities and our firefighters."
He also thanked staff and partners who worked across Scotland, saying their effort "helped us meet demand while maintaining cover for other emergencies"1. The SFRS said it would continue to monitor the situation and work with partner agencies to support communities and respond to any further incidents1.
The service did not report a breakdown of the 163 weather-related incidents by area, and no figures for casualties, injuries or damage costs were given in its statement1.
Why it matters for households
The incidents described by the SFRS are the kinds that storms bring to households across Scotland: fallen trees, damaged power cables, debris, unsafe structures and road collisions1. The Saltcoats operation shows the scale a single flooding incident can reach, with a high-volume pump and emergency services still on scene the day after the pumping began, and a care home among the properties surrounded by water1. People in affected areas may find roads blocked by debris or fallen trees and may face disruption to power supplies where cables have been damaged, though the SFRS statement does not list which areas were affected1. The service's account of its work over the weekend is set out in its own words above; it gives no safety advice to households in this statement1.
What happens next
The SFRS said it will continue to monitor the situation and work with partner agencies to support communities and respond to any further incidents1. Emergency services remained in attendance at the Saltcoats care home on Monday 26 October1. No further dates have been reported.
For background on the storm and how supplies were restored, see Storm Boelo: What Happened and How Supplies Were Restored, and for general household preparation for high winds and snow, see the storms and snow hub.
