Millport fire rescue team called to light ferry's route to port
6 January
Fire and rescue teams were called in to help more than 200 commuters - including an ambulance crew transferring a patient to hospital - to travel to and from Millport following a power cut.
The island suffered power loss after Tuesday's storms and, as a result, the ferry slipway could not be lit.
For safety reasons, the ferry could not land until adequate lighting was provided, so the local Watch Commander mobilised the crew at Millport Community Fire Station.
The local retained crew used specialist scene lighting to illuminate the slipway, allowing emergency sailings to take place between 4.30pm and 8.30pm.Â
Area Commander Hugh Kerr said: "Although this was not a statutory duty placed on the service, we were only too happy to assist our local community in their time of need.
"The SFR crews who attended are also local residents of the island and, due to the isolated location, are well versed in turning their hand to unusual requests such as this."
Area Commander Kerr also commended the Watch Commander for his initiative for ensuring SFR was able to help the community in its time of need by maintaining a vital lifeline for the community of Millport.
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