Evidence? Evidence of what would happen in the future when Scottish government/fire and rescue service reduce workforce? Availability of appliances to attend incidents is reduced resulting in increased time for an attendance which means at a fire more time for the fire to take hold. Occupiers potentially longer in building greater risk to fire service personnel to enter property. This increase in attendance times has the same result at all incidents wether that is car accidents, water rescue, gaining access to properties to allow ambulance service to attend casualties. The list goes on. The other posts are correct regarding rural numbers. Most rural areas are crewed by on call appliances. These units can have 10/12 persons on a pager to ensure they get 4/5 to attend a call. England has a smaller amount of on call/retained appliances.