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Home > Publications > Annual Report 2002 > Sligo Fire Authority

Sligo Fire Authority

The Fire Authority provides a number of services ranging from the emergency response to incidents such as fires, road traffic accidents, air accidents, chemical incidents and more recently biological incidents, to ensuring the fire safety of the built environment through certification, inspection and enforcement. The Authority also provides information and training on fire safety management and fire fighting.

In order to provide this service in an efficient manner throughout the county there are Fire Brigade Stations in Sligo, Ballymote, Tubbercurry and Enniscrone. These Brigades attended over 750 incidents in the last year. This reflects the continued expansion of our commercial and residential building stock and the increase in traffic using our road network.

There were several large commercial fires this year, again emphasising the need for an efficient and effective fire service and the need for preventative measures. There has been an increase in fires caused by arsonists. These pose a serious threat to life and property and the cost can also result in the loss of jobs within the community.

People must remain vigilant in the home, as this is where our most life threatening fires occur each year. The loss caused by these incidents is enormous, tragically one person died in Sligo as a result of such fires in 2002.

The fire authority attended numerous other ‘special services’ incidents that resulted in six fatalities and emphasises the multi functionary role of the service provided.

Training

There is a very strict training regime in the Fire Brigade as is necessitated by the sometimes difficult and dangerous environment in which Firefighters work. Firefighters undergo over one hundred hours training every year, this includes the latest advances in techniques used to tackle the fires known as ‘flashover’ and ‘backdraft’ and the latest methods of extraction of casualties from vehicles involved in incidents. This is particularly important in view of the advances in active safety technology employed in the modern car, airbags and seatbelt tensioning do save lives the instant an accident occurs but can pose a serious threat to rescue personnel. The Brigade now holds ‘block’ R.T.A. training over a number of days, in which the necessary skills are learned and practised.

Sligo is now a ‘hot fire’ training centre and offers this facility nationally for the training of Firefighters throughout the country. This facility is used to demonstrate and train Firefighters in the latest techniques and equipment necessary for their protection and the saving of life. The fire service now has 16 nationally qualified medical first responders among its staff.

The Breathing Apparatus training centre has been used as a national training centre following modernisation and the installation of a ‘gas fire system’, this is used to train staff in proper search and rescue techniques and in the use of Breathing Apparatus in fire situations.

Local industries have also facilitated the Brigade in carrying out Pre-Fire Training in which various types of incidents are staged and training undertaken so that should a similar incident occur the Brigade will have the necessary skills and resources needed to deal with it in an efficient and professional manner.

Community Fire Safety

National Fire Safety Week proved very successful and involved local schools in an art competition depicting fire safety. The prizes included computers funded by the National Safety Council. The Cathaoirleach Cllr. Padraig Branley, Mayor Cllr. Tommy Cummins and Mr Pat Forkan, Director of Services selected the best pictures for inclusion in a calendar produced for 2003.

Many other initiatives were undertaken throughout the year. Talks were given to the elderly and other groups on fire safety. Groups of primary school students visited the stations and watched fire safety videos and demonstrations, in all approximately 600 students visited the station. Groups from secondary schools, Sligo Institute of Technology and the local community also participated in courses held in the Fire Station.

These courses reinforce the need for vigilance when it comes to fire safety and brings this message back to their homes, schools and workplaces.

The Fire Authority processed over 130 Fire Safety Certificate applications as required under Building Control Legislation and dealt with in excess of 200 Planning Applications under the Planning Acts. These applications covered a wide range of premises from Apartment Blocks, Hotels, and Shops to large commercial developments.

Inspections were carried out under the various Licensing legislation covering nearly every type of premises from petroleum stores to dance licences. The Fire Authority made comment on all transfer of licences before the courts and carried out numerous during performance inspections of dance halls, public houses and workplaces and indeed successfully prosecuted where satisfactory standards were not achieved. Generally the level of co-operation received when advice is given is very good.

Fire Stations and Appliances

The provision of a new Fire Engine in the Sligo Fire Station Head Quarters was a welcome addition and will provide the community with the very best equipment available. The expected provision of funding for the refurbishment of the Hydraulic Platform later this year will be another milestone in the continued upgrading of the equipment provided.

Plans are being prepared for the upgrading of Sligo Fire Station in line with current requirements and this matter is being progressed as is the provision of the new Fire Station in Ballymote.

Communications

The 24 hour Watchroom at Headquarters deals with all emergency calls for the Borough and County. The proposed Computer Aided Mobilisation Project is expected to be available later this year. The professionalism of the Watchroom Personnel, who deal with all emergency calls received and provide assistance through backup services and information to field operations, ensures that incidents are dealt with in an efficient manner.



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