Mairhi Trickett: Rachel Harris - Fire Brigade

The Hawick Rotary Club met as usual in Mansfield House Hotel for a meal followed by some
business and then Mairhi Trickett introduced her daughter Rachel Harris, Crew Commander
of the Blue Watch at Hawick Fire Station, who gave a lively and interesting account of
working with Scottish Fire and Rescue. She began her career in Edinburgh 21 years ago and
had her preliminary training at Gullane Training Centre for 16 weeks. She then did four years’
probation, mostly at Liberton Fire Station. After working at stations in Edinburgh, during
which time she was involved with the big fires in the Cowgate and at the Balmoral Bar. She also
completed her Blue Light training so she could drive the fire engines. She moved to the
Borders, married Grant also a Firefighter and had their two children, while working at
Galashiels and Hawick. Rachel then explained how the Lothian and Borders Fire Service
became part of Scottish Fire and Rescue in 2013 with a whole different approach to their job
– health and safety adding a different dimension to their original duties of putting out
fires. As well as doing preventative fire checks on houses and businesses they are trained in
resuscitation, emergency house calls and water rescue. She dealt with the many questions from members before a Vote of Thanks was given by Linden Warburton.