FIRE
SERVICE
2002
– Operational Statistics
| Total
number of fires attended by brigades |
388 |
| Road
Traffic Accident attendances |
120 |
| Oil
Spillages |
125 |
| Miscellaneous
calls |
134 |
| False
Alarms |
146 |
Total
Number of Incidents 913
This
continues an increasing trend in the number of Road Traffic
Accidents attended by the brigade.
Stations
/ Equipment
Callan - Approval granted for construction in 2003 of a new
fire station
Freshford - Full tender documentation has been prepared for
a new fire station
Fire Engines - Two new vehicles received for Kilkenny City and
Urlingford Fire Station, vehicle ordered for Callan Fire Station
Emergency Tender - New vehicle received for Kilkenny City Fire
Station
All the above is through funding from the Department of Environment
and Local Government.
Fire
Safety
Premises under the Public Dance Hall Act 1935
Licensing Acts, Gaming Lottery Acts 1854-1979, Dangerous Substances
Act 1972, Building Control Act 1990 were inspected by fire officers.
A very successful fire safety week was held
in October. All fire brigades throughout the County were involved
in highlighting the importance of fire safety in the home. Prizes
were won in fire safety quizzes organised by the firefighters
throughout the county.
Initiative
The fire service together with the South Eastern
Health Board Ambulance Service in Kilkenny are actively involved
in weekly joint training exercises. This initiative has lead
to a huge benefit to both services dealing with road traffic
accidents. The medical and physical rescue of casualties can
be carried out simultaneously by both services which reduces
the entrapment time.
Other
Activities
In
December 2002 Kilkenny Fire Service and the South Eastern Ambulance
Service collected over €10,000 for the Susan Maher Memorial
Fund and St. Mary’s Parish Homes for the Elderly. This
is the fourth year that the two services have combined to raise
funds for local causes.
KILKENNY
CIVIL DEFENCE
The year commenced with the Annual Charity Walk on Brandonhill.
This year the sponsored donation went to the Friends of the
Watergarden, Thomastown.
The land search team was called out by Gardai
in the Spa Hill Area of Johnstown, to assist in the search for
a missing person in January. David Smith and John Brennan provided
transport and communications back-up during the search.
A first-aid survival course was provided for
transition year students at Grennan College from January to
April.
Combined training of selected volunteers for
the national exercise continued during February and March and
the County competed in Limerick on 27/28th April. Training in
the use of the new U.H.F. radios was carried out by Communications
Officer Maura Young.
Crews were trained in the handling of the new
rigid inflatable boat on all three sister rivers and there was
one search and recovery call-out on the River Suir in May.
Community support for both civic and sporting
events was also provided throughout the year ranging from the
formal opening of Woodstock Gardens to participation at the
Budweiser Derby at the Curragh.
This year was also marked by the return visit
of the Isle of Man Volunteers to Kilkenny.
The formal blessing and naming of the two rescue boats took
place in Inistioge during their visit and the workboat was named
the “Oiledan Mhainnin” in their honour. The new
rigid inflatable boat was named the “Roisin Dubh”.
The facilities of the Callan Area Office provided
the base for a recruitment programme to encourage new members
and this is being co-ordinated by Jim Byrne and Paddy Denny.
The Annual Christmas exercise was held in Kilkenny
this year and included a briefing on new technology by scientific
Officer Willie McTiernan and a guided tour of Kilkenny Castle
and facilities courtesy of John Burke and the staff at the Castle.
