Fire crew left students 'in cold'

Eight firefighters have been suspended over an incident in which hundreds of students were left to spend almost three hours outside Glasgow flats.

The incident happened at Buchanan View student accommodation, Calgary Street, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Fire Brigades Union has confirmed it is investigating complaints.

The suspended men work at Cowcaddens station, from which nine staff were disciplined in August for refusing to hand out leaflets at a Gay Pride march.

The same team are not thought to have been involved in the la-*test*-('") incident where firefighters attended an alarm call at the flats - home to students from a number of universities - just after midnight.

Despite no fire being found the students were not allowed back into the building until almost 0300 GMT.

Some of the students took it in turns to shelter in the foyer of a nearby building.

Student John Houston said: "When the fire alarm went off we went outside and there were three fire engines there. It had started raining and was very cold.

"After about 40 minutes we were told that we might have to wait another one and a half hours to get back in.

"All the people waiting outside were obviously very annoyed and the rain was getting heavier. I had on a t-shirt, jumper and my coat but I was still very cold.

"We got back in at three o'clock in the morning with no explanation."

The FBU's Scottish spokesman Kenny Ross would not give exact details of the incident but confirmed the eight crew had been suspended as a precaution while several complaints from members of the public were examined.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said: "This follows a number of complaints that the service has received concerning the conduct of some of our personnel.

"A senior officer is now carrying out a thorough investigation to establish the full facts."

And here is the outcome, I anticipate strike action will soon follow.

Three firemen have been sacked after students were kept out in the cold for almost three hours following an alarm.

The incident occurred in Glasgow in November when firemen from Cowcaddens' station responded to a late night call at student flats in Calgary Street.

The students said that although there was no fire, they were kept outside their accommodation from just after midnight until 0300 GMT.

Two other firefighters also received final written warnings.

A total of eight firefighters were suspended after the incident.

No action is being taken against the remaining three firefighters, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said.

It said that the action followed an internal inquiry and disciplinary proceedings.

"This follows a number of complaints from members of the public about the conduct of some of our personnel," said the service.

"Given that this is a disciplinary issue that may be subject to appeal, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue has no further statements to make at this time."

Nine officers from a different watch at the same station were disciplined after refusing to hand out leaflets at a gay pride march last summer.