Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Borough Council Annual Report 2005

EMERGENCY SERVICES AND SAFETY CONCERNS

FIRE SERVICE:

The seven fire brigades in Kilkenny County Council Fire Service were mobilised to over 970 times in 2005. The average time to turn out a fire engine from the time the call was received was 5.8 minutes. The fire service was in attendance at 42.19% of emergencies within 10 minutes of being called, 48.18% within 20 minutes and 9.63% in over 20 minutes. This is an improvement on last year’s figures.

The fire service attended a number of major gas leaks in Kilkenny City in 2005. Working together with the gardai and the ambulance service over 100 people had to be evacuated. The fire service also had to deal with an acetylene cylinder involved in a serious blaze in a workshop. This entailed provision of fire cover on the ground for over 24 hours. Persons had to be evacuated and a constant jet of water had to be kept on the acetylene cylinder for the 24 hours.

Firefighters Andy Ramsbottom and Corabh Wise were awarded medals for their bravery by the Irish Water Safety Association in the rescuing of two boys from the River Breagagh. They were the first firefighters in the country to be awarded these medals.

Training

A one day refresher on First Aid and Trauma was held for 12 no. firefighters in April 2005.
A one day Breathing Apparatus course was held for all firefighters in March 2005.
A one week Pump Operator/Drivers course was held for 7 no. firefighters in September 2005. All firefighters subsequently passed the driving test first time.
Senior and Junior Officer training was ongoing during 2005. The courses that officers attended are as follows - Operational Command Course (Development); Road Traffic Accident Course; Fire Safety Engineering (New Entrant); B.A. Instructors Refresher Course; Unit II Course; Fire Safety Engineering Course; Hazmat Course; Operational Command Course; Unit I Course; Media Handling Course and Fire Services Council Seminars.

A.C.F.O. Frank Dunne was awarded an M.B.A. in Business Administration by D.C.U.

Purchase of Vehicles and Equipment

3 second hand fire engines were purchased in 2005. These appliances replaced 25 year old fire engines in Thomastown, Urlingford and Graiguenamanagh.
2 second hand jeeps were also purchased to replace 20 year old jeeps in Callan and Thomastown fire stations.
A class B water tender was ordered for Freshford fire brigade. This appliance is under construction with a company in Galway . The appliance is to be delivered in the final quarter of 2006.

6 no. gas tight suits and 2 no. gas tight training suits were purchased in order to improve our capability at hazardous materials incidents.

28 no. breathing apparatus sets complete with lightweight cylinder were purchased.

A total of €48,330 was spent in the provision of PPE and Safety Equipment.

Approval was obtained from the D.O.E.H.L.G. to submit drawings and costings for a new station in Castlecomer.

Fire Safety

Fire Safety awareness was promoted during National Fire Safety Week through visits to schools, radio interviews on the local radio station and press releases to the local newspapers.

Fire Safety was also promoted through Kilkenny Local Authority’s advertising feature on the Kilkenny People.

The proposed fire safety awareness campaign through the local radio station in conjunction with Carlow Fire Service on a monthly basis did not occur. However senior fire officers from Kilkenny Fire Service gave regular interviews on the local radio station with respect to promoting fire safety.

School visits to the fire station.

Students from 2nd and 3rd class of Kells National School with teacher Ms Valerie Landy

- Regular school visits are arranged to the fire station on Wednesdays each week. Over 300 primary school children visited the fire station in 2005. Each visit would last for approx. 45 minutes. Children would be shown around the fire station and would be given life saving tips with respect to fire safety. Each child would also be given fire safety literature and a pencil with a fire safety message. In addition a number of photographs would be taken of the visit and would be entered into the Fire Service website.

Fire Safety Certificates and Inspections

All fire safety certificates were assessed.

A total of 189 fire safety certificates were received.

Over 35 licensed premises were inspected under the licensing act. This involved a number of inspections of the premises and giving evidence to the court. Over 300 licensing applications were processed.

A total of 8 no. nursing homes were inspected and assessed.

All relevant planning applications were sought by the fire service and the planning authority were advised of our requirements.

Fundraising

At Christmas Kilkenny County Council Fire Service and the ambulance service from St. Luke’s Hospital raised over €8000 for two local charities. In addition during the year Kilkenny County Council Fire Service were involved in a very successful fundraising event for REHAB involving the washing of cars .