Skill of firefighters

What a shame for the Fire Brigades Union that it cancelled its strike action prior to last weekend’s fire in the Old Town. This would have been the ideal opportunity to scotch the myth that the army can cope when the professionals are not there.

If the blaze had been tackled by the army (well-intentioned as they are) it would still be burning, and would have spread far further. It is only due to the skill, courage and professionalism of firefighters that the devastation is not much worse.

At its peak the fire involved the services of some 120 firefighters. If the government gets its way in reducing the number on duty at "quiet periods", this would be every firefighter on duty in Edinburgh, at the same incident. Who would look after the rest of the city?

We need the existing number of firefighters not for what they do, but for what they might have to do.

ROBIN MAINSTONE

Fairway, Haddington

East Lothian

The fire that has devastated such an important part of the Old Town recalls the disaster that led to the world’s first municipal fire brigade in 1824. Then, as now, fire ripped through a major part of the Old Town, fought in vain by the unorganised teams of volunteers and dung-porters.

That the fire didn’t spread to engulf the whole city was due to a change in the weather. The wind direction reversed, blowing the flames back over the ruins and it rained steadily.

Edinburgh must count itself very fortunate that this fire occurred when its firefighters were working normally.

BRUCE HOLLANDS

Fuerteventura

Las Canarias, Spain