Staff from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have been going the extra mile to spread some festive spirit across the country.
18:29, 24 Dec 2025Updated 18:30, 24 Dec 2025
Those magical moments include drive-through Santa grottos to fire appliances and crews bringing Santa to communities(Image: SFRS)
Glasgow fire crews have joined forces to help Santa deliver Christmas presents to local children in an incredible show of festive spirit. The city’s 11 community fire stations came together to help St Nick drop off some goodies to those on the nice list.
They did so by holding an appeal for Christmas toys and gifts, with their stations as drop-off points. All donations were collected by Glasgow charity Spirit Aid and distributed across the city. A massive £16,000 has also been raised by the city for various charities throughout 2025.
The kind gesture is just one part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s good work over the festive season. In Aberdeen, crews visited the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital to support the hospital’s children’s charity.
This annual event gives Santa a ride on an aerial ladder platform which hoists him up to the windows of the hospital, much to the delight of the children. Crews and Santa also visited accessible wards and delivered gifts.
Arbroath and Carnoustie held a cosy coat appeal. More than 400 people visited the stations to receive a free breakfast and 350 cosy jackets were given to residents for the colder months. Remaining jackets were donated to The Lighthouse project (clothing bank), The Salvation Army and Angus Health and Social Care Partnership.
Ayrshire’s drive through Santa event saw hundreds of families and queues of cars arrive at fire stations in Kilwinning, Largs and Muirkirk. While Santa is the main man, Mrs Claus often steals the show at Kilwinning Community Fire Station. Also known as Annie, the station’s cook, she always brings a warm welcome and delicious home baking.
Other events included a Christmas market at New Cumnock Community Fire Station and Maybole Community Fire Station held a children’s Christmas party. All events were a hit and raised over £3,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity.
Down south, Dumfries Community Fire Station transformed into a winter wonderland with lights, Christmas trees, the Grinch and Santa. It was a busy event with 501 cars visiting and 1065 selection boxes given away. The station raised £1,560 for the Fire Fighters Charity and Family Support Trust.
Up in Dundee, colleagues from Blackness Road Community Fire Station collected hundreds of essential items to donate to the community including clothing, shoes, and bedding.
East and West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute have collected bundles of gifts for two local charities. A local radio station contributed a large number of toys to Dumbarton Community Fire Station, too.
Staff from all across the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have been spreading Christmas cheer around Scotland(Image: SFRS)
Garelochhead Community Fire Station held a drive through Santa event which helped to raise funds for the Fire Fighters Charity, while Livingston Community Fire Station supported the annual Festive Friends appeal which helps to support older and socially isolated people in West Lothian, where 25 hampers were dished out.
More alarming – but comical – news in Montrose as the Grinch was arrested. The fire station brought Santa on tour but police made an arrest along the way, when they captured the Grinch to ensure he didn’t get up to any mischief.
Santa also got out for a spin in Nairn when the fire station’s annual sleigh ride got underway. He collected donations and gifts. Last year, the event collected more than £9,000 which helped 13 local charities.
Businesses and individuals then donated selection boxes to Newton Stewart Community Fire Station. The station looked magical with Christmas trees lining its entrance. All the trees were donated by a local company and were given away to good homes for a donation to charity. The event has raised £10,000 in its five years of running.
Crews in Perth also launched a Christmas gift appeal.