Clare County Fire and Rescue Service has reported a 460% increase in the number of call-outs to forest, bog and gorse fires in the first five months of 2010.
The emergency service tended to 204 such incidents between January 1st and June 1st, compared to 36 for the same period in 2009.
The fire service also reported a 38% increase in call-outs to chimney fires during the first half of the 2010, with call-outs rising to 159 from 115 last year.
Clare County Fire and Rescue Service released the statistics today as it took receipt of a new Water Tanker at Ennis Fire Station. A second Water Tanker is scheduled to be delivered to Shannon Fire Station later this month, bringing to five the number of modern Water Tankers strategically located throughout the county.
The stainless steel tanks, which each have a water capacity of 9,000 litres, will be used primarily for tackling fires but are also capable of providing Drinking Water, similar to the tankers used during the severe spell of cold weather earlier this year.
The appliances have been supplied by Mark Barrett of the Harris Group, Naas Road, Dublin, while the bodywork has been completed by Jimmy Kelly’s of Castledermott, County Carlow. The tankers, which were funded by the Department of the Environment, also include motorway display signage to assist the Fire Service at roadway incidents.
An Emergency Tender Fire Appliance is being delivered to Shannon Fire Station on Friday next also, further enhancing the fleet of Clare County Fire & Rescue Service.
According to Mayor of Clare, Councillor Tony Mulcahy: “2010 has been an exceptionally busy year to date for the members of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service. The dramatic rise in call-outs to forest and chimney fires follows on from one of the busiest periods ever experienced by fire service personnel during the winter when Clare was affected by severe flooding and a prolonged cold spell of weather. I would like to compliment the county’s Fire Fighters for responding to hundreds of call-outs and helping to minimise the risk posed by fire to life and property.”
Mayor of Ennis Councillor Frankie Neylon noted that continued investment in the local Fire Service was essential in light of the increase in incident call-outs during 2010.
He continued: “The delivery of a new €160,000 Water Tanker to Ennis Fire Station, as well as an additional Water Tanker and Emergency Tender Fire Appliance to Shannon Fire Station on Friday, will enhance the Fire Service’s ability to respond to and deal with fire incidents. The fire fighting capability of the local service will also be greatly enhanced by the provision of a new training centre at Ennis Fire Station. Once completed at the end of 2010, the new facility will complement existing training facilities at the Station and will enable the Fire Service to run national training courses, as well as courses for external bodies and local authorities.”
Meanwhile, Chief Fire Officer Adrian Kelly has urged members of the public, and particularly landowners, to familiarise themselves with the latest Department of Agriculture advice relating to forest, gorse and bog fires.
He commented: “The Fire Service attended 204 separate forest, bog and gorse fires in the first five months of the year. This represents a significant increase on the number of similar incidents attended during the same period last year. Detailed information regarding the controlled burning of such lands is available on the Department of Agriculture website, www.agriculture.gov.ie.”
Mr. Kelly also advised householders to consider getting their chimneys cleaned before the autumn.
“The summer months provide an ideal opportunity for householders to get their chimneys cleaned. The evidence from the first five months of the year suggest that many people have not carried out this important task in the past so I would urge them to do so over the coming months so as to reduce the threat posed by chimney fires to property and life”, he concluded.
