Civil Defence

Mission Statement

"To promote, develop and maintain Civil Defence as an effective volunteer based professional organisation providing emergency response and community support services"

Kilkenny Civil Defence is a volunteer based organisation where its members are proud to serve as a high quality back-up service supporting the principle emergency services and the local community. Kilkenny Civil Defence is part of the Local Authorities response to Emergencies and Major Emergencies in particular.

 

Recruitment and Active Numbers

Currently Kilkenny Civil Defence has 55 active members (members who have attended 5 or more activities during the year) the total number of members in Kilkenny Civil Defence is 68. The average ages of the volunteer in Kilkenny is 35 and are based throughout the county. On average we are recruiting in the order of 1 volunteer per fortnight. The recruitment strategy for Kilkenny Civil Defence includes advertising at all events we attend, advertising in local papers (not required so far) and development of a website for Kilkenny Civil Defence (projected completion date Sept 2011)

 

Activities 2010

Activity	Number	Average number of Volunteers
Community Events - First Aid	11	5
Missing Person - Open Area	2	18
Missing Person - River	5	6
Fire Cover	1	6
Exercise	5	20
Severe Weather Event	3	18
Home Coming	1	12

Training 2010

Training Course	Level Achieved	No. of Volunteers
Induction for New Members	Attendance	22
Instructional Methods	Civil Defence Instructor	7
Radio Instructor	Radio Instructor	1
Cardiac First Responder	Cardiac First Responder	23
Occupational First Aid	Occupational First Aid	23
Powerboat Coxswain	Level 2	4
	Level 3	1
Food Safety	Induction Training	14
Marine VHF	Marine VHF Licence	3
Child Protection Awareness	Attendance	3
Manual Handling Instructor	Manual Handling Instructor	1

 

 

Objectives, Principles and Core Skills

Kilkenny Civil Defence operates multi-skill training out of its two training centres both located within the city of Kilkenny. The areas of training are broken into the following;
1. Casualty/First Aid Service
2. Rescue
3. Auxiliary Fire Service
4. Warden Service and Radiation Monitoring
5. Welfare Service
6. Civil Defence Communications

 

 

1. Casualty/First Aid Service

The Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the statutory body which develops and sets standards for all pre-hospital care in Ireland. They have developed standards which encompass all those who provide pre-hospital care; from voluntary / community groups to Advanced Paramedic standards.

The Occupational First Aid Assessment Agent (OFAAA) is the agent appointed by the Health & Safety Authority (H.S.A.) to manage the Occupational First Aid Standard, at both Responder and Instructor level.

The Civil Defence College is a recognised training institution by both PHECC and OFAAA for all relevant standards and currently provides training and assessment in the following standards:

• Cardiac First Responder
• Occupational First Aid
• Emergency First Responder
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Cardiac First Response Instructor
• Occupational First Aid Instructor
• Emergency First Response Instructor

Kilkenny Civil Defence in the past year have organised and completed two Cardiac First Responder Courses and Occupational First Aid courses for 23 members, we are currently running an Emergency First Responder course for an additional 16 members and hope to be completed for April/May 2011.

At present the Kilkenny Civil Defence have 2 Emergency Medical Technicians and 1 Paramedic who carry out the Casualty training.

Civil Defence volunteers provide a very high standard of patient care and interaction, when required, during community and other events.

 

2. Rescue

Rescue activity in Kilkenny Civil Defence can be divided into a number of categories:

• Open country search for missing persons
• Water based search and recovery
• Technical Rescue

 

These techniques require physically fit volunteer members with stamina to undergo long periods of sustained activity. The training has proven to be attractive to members as it may involve outdoor activity. Simulated emergencies such as aircraft crashes, open country searches and collapsed buildings are used to make the training as realistic as possible. Water based activity may take place on inland and costal waters.

Kilkenny Civil Defence search unit for the year 2010 have been activated on 7 occasions 5 of which were within the county of Kilkenny and on 2 occasions Kilkenny Civil Defence recovered the missing persons.

Training for the search units is on a continual basis and we are in the process of developing a training programme in open country search for missing persons in conjunction with other voluntary emergency services.

Training for water-based activities in Kilkenny is provided by external agencies. For example powerboat training is provided as per the syllabus of the Irish Sailing Association (ISA), by ISA approved agencies. Revised Boating Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG's) are being introduced to streamline and consolidate boating operations. In the past year Kilkenny Civil Defence have trained 4 extra members to powerboat level 2 and 1 member to powerboat level 3, this brings our total powerboat operators to 10. Our training programme for the year 2011 will include training 4 more members to powerboat level 2 and 5 more volunteers to powerboat level 3. In 2010 we secured partial funding for the purchase of a replacement boat for the Avon Rib (over 15 years old) from the Civil Defence Board.

Kilkenny Civil Defence in conjunction with the Civil Defence Training College have begun to roll out water awareness training for all of the members of Kilkenny Civil Defence, this process will continue for the next 2 years to ensure that all members of Kilkenny Civil Defence involved in any water-based activities will have a minimum of water awareness. In addition to the water awareness our training plan for 2011 includes training a number of members to swift water first responder.

Rope Rescue capabilities have been developed to provide facilities for raising or lowering casualties, when circumstances require this service. Kilkenny Civil Defence have decided that we do not require any technical line rescue instructors per say, but a training need has been identified in Urban Search and Rescue USAR and part of the USAR capabilities involves a limited knowledge of Knots and Lines, therefore Kilkenny Civil Defence's training programme for 2011 includes Rescue Access Technician certification for an external training company and will be completed for 5 members in June 2011.

 

 

3. Auxiliary Fire Service

The Auxiliary Fire Service was set up to act as a back up or auxiliary fire service to the front line fire service. Members are trained in certain areas of fire fighting such as pump and ladder drills. They are also trained in pumping floodwaters and supplying water and other emergency supports to the community. This will be particularly beneficial in assisting with flood relief efforts in County Kilkenny. Kilkenny Civil Defence have recently acquired a second hand fire tender from Kilkenny Fire Service and training for all activities in relation to the auxiliary fire service in ongoing. There are plans in place to examine and define the role of the Auxiliary Fire Service. Training for the auxiliary fire service at a national level is being developed at the moment and Kilkenny Civil Defence has been asked to contribute to this development.

Kilkenny Civil Defence for the first time in a number of years will be entering a team in the regional pump drill competitions and training for this event in ongoing.

 

4. Warden Service and Radiation Monitoring

The Civil Defence organisation has a nuclear radiation monitoring responsibility, defined in the National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents, in the event of a nuclear accident, a nuclear war or potential terrorist nuclear detonation. To meet this commitment Civil Defence has trained a network of Wardens throughout the country on the operation of radiation detection and monitoring equipment. Currently in Kilkenny Civil Defence there is 1 active Warden, it is hoped to increases this number when the Civil Defence College roll out the required training.

Under the Government's National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government is the co-ordinating body for the response of all Government Departments and Agencies. Under the Plan a number of important and specific functions have been allocated to Civil Defence and the warden service implements these. The functions include:

• Conducting radiation monitoring as required by Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).
• Collecting samples of differing types including soil, water and vegetation, and transporting them to the laboratories of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) and other designated laboratories for analysis.
• Conducting mobile monitoring in each of the local authority areas including at seaports and airports.
• Assisting, where required, in implementation of control measures.

 

At present Kilkenny Civil Defence do not have any Scientific Officers and until training can be provided by the Civil Defence College in the defined area of radiation monitoring Kilkenny Civil Defence will continue to provide training at a local level on the use of the monitoring equipment and sampling.

 

5. Welfare Service

Civil Defence is the only primary volunteer based organisation that is highly trained in this field and therefore provides unique services in times of emergency in support of front line organisations. There are two definite strands to this service, which are defined as:

• Food Hygiene & Food Safety
• Evacuation & Dealing with Displaced Persons

There can be considerable suffering and further loss of life in emergencies if proper aftercare is not provided for disaster victims. This can range from basic physical needs such as providing hot meals and drinks to psychosocial support.

Food preparation is carried out in accordance with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) standards, training for which is provided by Kilkenny Civil Defence welfare instructor. In 2010 Kilkenny Civil Defence trained 2 of our members in HACCP and have completed a course for 16 of our members in Food Safety. It is not envisaged that Kilkenny Civil Defence will be involved in the preparation of foods, Kilkenny Civil Defence have established agreements with a number of local retailers in the food sector and should there be a need to distribute food to any disaster victims Kilkenny Civil Defence have the training and facilities to safely distribute the welfare to the needy.

The service members are also trained to respond to evacuation situations by establishing shelters, dealing with refugees and managing the evacuation and transport of persons from affected areas. Kilkenny Civil Defence have been identified in the Major Emergency Plan to assist with the establishment of the evacuation shelters.

 

6. Civil Defence Communications

Among the key resources necessary in providing the Civil Defence response to National Emergencies, Emergency Relief Support and Community Support activities are it's communications systems. These consist of the standard telecommunications networks countrywide, the Government VPN (Virtual Private Network) and the dedicated Civil Defence radio communications networks, which are licensed by ComReg (Commission for Communications Regulation)

It is primarily the radio networks that are utilized in support of the many operational duties conducted by Civil Defence units in the field. These systems are located countrywide in each Civil Defence local authority area and are made up of

• Very High Frequency (V.H.F.) Radio System
• Ultra High Frequency (U.H.F.) Radio System
• Marine V.H.F Radio

The V.H.F. system provides wide-area radio coverage over long distances, typically of a county area and beyond. The system enables direct radio communications between the base stations, located at the Civil Defence headquarters in each local authority and the various operational response vehicles, fitted with V.H.F. mobile radios, as they travel throughout the county area. In 2010 Kilkenny Civil Defence installed a new V.H.F. and U.H.F. system in the Newly established Storage Unit in Purcesllsinch, Kilkenny. The new system gives Kilkenny Civil Defence greater coverage of the county and enables direct radio communications between the base stations, located at the Civil Defence headquarters and other base stations located in other Local Authorities, Roscrea and Ratra House in Dublin. This system is further enhanced by the use of a network of hill-top radio repeater sites in the more mountainous areas of the country.

The second radio system is a U.H.F. system used principally for on-site radio communications at incident sites or in confined operational areas between U.H.F. mobile radios, fitted to vehicles and U.H.F. hand-portable radios, carried by Civil Defence personnel. This system provides for relatively short-range radio coverage such as search areas.

The UHF system is also used extensively in the main urban environments to provided radio communications, where it has better penetration in built-up areas.

Kilkenny Civil Defence also avails of Marine V.H.F. radio in support of its water based activities along the coast and on inland waterways. The system enables radio communications between Civil Defence boat crews and other Marine emergency agencies such as the Coastguard, the various Coast Radio Stations and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) when required. In order to utilise the marine V.H.F. Kilkenny Civil Defence have provided a certified training course and issued licences to use the marine V.H.F. through an external provider to 3 of it members bring the total of marine V.H.F. licences in Kilkenny Civil Defence to 6. this course was organised by Kilkenny Civil Defence in Kilkenny Civil Defences Training Centre and offered to other voluntary emergency services to which all availed.

All radio communications equipments operated by Kilkenny Civil Defence, throughout the county, are of similar quality and to the same standards as those used by the Principal Response Agencies.

 

Communications Training

One of the services within Kilkenny Civil Defence organisation is it's Communications Service which is made up of 2 qualified Radio Instructors one of which received her qualification in 2010.Radio Instructor training and qualification is conducted by the Civil Defence College.

Radio Operator training is conducted locally by Kilkenny Civil Defence Radio Instructors. This training is conducted in accordance with the Civil Defence Syllabus of Local Training - Radio Operation. This syllabus outlines the various levels of radio training as the operator progresses. Topics include equipment familiarisation and operation, Voice Procedures, Net Discipline, Net Operator, Net Controller etc. All procedures are to common international standards which allow integration with other organisations and agencies. Civil Defence U.H.F. radios integrated with the Fire Service and the H.S.E. U.H.F. radios which make them invaluable when conducting a coordinated response to a major emergency.

Kilkenny Civil Defence complies fully with the rules and regulations as laid down by ComReg (Commission for Communications Regulation) in relation to every aspect of radio communications.

 

Premises

In Nov 2009 Kilkenny Civil Defence acquired our Head Quarters Training Centre from Kilkenny Local Authorities. The room consists of a tea/coffee station, a WC and a large open plan area of apx 100m2. This area provides Kilkenny Civil Defence not only with the facilities to provide the high level of training and course that are required to maintain the level of competency of volunteer but also provides Kilkenny Civil Defence with a direct link to Kilkenny Local Authorities response to a major emergency. The training centre has 3 times been activated as the control centre for Kilkenny Local Authorities response to Severe Weather Events, Jan 2010 and twice in Nov/Dec 2010. The training room is equipped with multiple phone lines and computer outlets and is in very close proximity to County Hall, it is close enough to facilitate the movement of staff between County Hall and the Control Centre yet not so close as to interfere with the day to day operational duties of County Hall. The training centre has been used for Severe Weather Co-ordination group meeting, regional Civil Defence meeting, regional Civil Defence training, control centre for the regional exercise hosted by Kilkenny Civil Defence in June 2010, control centre for searches for missing persons in the city area and after hours and weekend training by Kilkenny Civil Defence volunteers.

In October 2010 Kilkenny Civil Defence received funding from Kilkenny Local Authorities and The Civil Defence Board for the renting of premises in Purcellsinch Industrial Estate, Kilkenny. The premises consists of a apx 250m2 area for the storage of the vehicles, a large store room for the storage of all ancillary equipment and clothing, two offices which will be converted into a communications room and changing room with toilet and shower facilities for both male and female volunteers. The premises are ideally located on the outskirts of the city on large industrial site with ample outdoor locations for all aspects of Kilkenny Civil Defence training.

 

Relationship with Fire Service

Relationship with Fire Service is generally quite good and in the last year key area have been identified where common training has found to be mutually beneficial. A number of accredited instructors in Kilkenny Civil Defence work full time in Kilkenny Fire Service and have developed additional competencies in areas outside their core skills which could be utilised more in Fire Service training and indeed training for employees of Kilkenny Local Authority.

One key area of training and coordinated response to an emergency is river rescue. Graiguenamanagh has been identified as an area with a high number of river incidents. On a number of occasions Graigurnemanagh Fire Service have been mobilised to persons in the water in need of rescue/recovery and are not equipped or trained to carry out a rescue or recovery.

Kilkenny Civil Defence have a long history with the area of Graiguenamanagh and Inistioge and at one stage had a unit in Graiguenamanagh. In our training program for 2011 Kilkenny Civil Defence have developed a solution to this problem, Kilkenny Civil Defence will train 5 members of Graiguenamanagh Fire Service in the use of Kilkenny Civil Defences inflatable rib for the use of river rescue. The rib will be relocated from Kilkenny Civil Defences storage facility in Purcellsinch and positioned in a newly acquired storage unit (given by member of the public in Graiguenamanagh to Kilkenny Fire Service) for use by Kilkenny Fire Service as an immediate response to a river rescue. The training will be to the syllabus of the Irish Sailing Association (ISA), by ISA approved agencies and certified to the same. Kilkenny Fire Service will adopt and use Kilkenny Civil Defence standard operating guidelines and launch and recovery procedures. All training and PPE worn by the Fire Service will be to the same standard as Kilkenny Civil Defence. Training on the river in Graigurnamanagh from now on will be a joint training exercise between Kilkenny Civil Defence and Graiguenamanagh Fire Service.

On mobilisation of a crew from Graiguenamanagh to a missing person in the river Kilkenny Civil Defence will also be activated and on arrival work side by side with the Fire Service. This operation will be on a trial basis for 1 year with the prospect of rolling it out to other Stations in Kilkenny Fire Service.

Another area where Kilkenny Civil Defence will be in a position to assist is radiation monitoring, one of the upcoming SOG's for the Fire Service will deal with radiation incidents and monitoring equipment. Nationally Civil Defence may assist with training and use of monitoring equipment.

 

Health and Safety

In that regard the Civil Defence Board has engaged the services of Phoenix Safety, experienced consultants in the area of health & safety, and drafted a Safety Manual Template which is particular to Civil Defence activities and which should reflect Civil Defence safety issues within a Local Authority.

Kilkenny Civil Defence are using this document as a broad template for use by the Safety Officer, working in conjunction with the Civil Defence Officer, to optimise the management of the safety of Civil Defence personnel operating under the control of the Authority.

This Safety Manual template document focuses on the key strategic requirements to allow Kilkenny Civil Defence to produce a Safety Manual for our division of the Civil Defence in line with statutory requirements. It defines the structure, content, risk assessment templates in support of Kilkenny Civil Defence producing a document and the key objectives that we have set ourselves. The Safety Manual template document sets out the broad objectives for Kilkenny Civil Defence so that it may continue to be an effective professional voluntary service in compliance with our legal requirements.

It is envisaged that by the end of 2011 Kilkenny Civil Defence's safety Manual will be completed and ready for adoption by Kilkenny Local Authorities. In order to facilitate this endeavour the Civil Defence Board have established sub committees to produce Standard Operating Guidelines for each of the activities entered by Civil Defence, in line with the SOG's currently being produced nationally by the Fire Service Directorate.

Kilkenny Civil Defence also, for the first time, has a volunteer representative on the Health and Safety Committee for Kilkenny Local Authorities.

The Civil Defence Board is also examining the possibility of providing FETAC Level 5 Safety Officer training for all Civil Defence Officers which would be of further assistance to Local Authorities in the management of Safety in Civil Defence activities at local level.

 

Severe Weather Events 2010

The snow fall and freezing temperatures of 2010 proved to be one of the harshest on record. In early January 2010 and late November 2010 a cold spell began with heavy snow fall over the entire county in November and night-time temperatures routinely falling to below -100C.  The cold spell caused widespread disruption of services affecting roads and most items of major infrastructure. Many people were stranded in their homes without food, medicines or fuel.

This hardship triggered Kilkenny LA to assemble a Crisis Management Team (CMT) to ensure that the LA core obligations were maintained and also to render humanitarian assistance. The CMT was assisted and supported at all times by the LA's fellow Principal Response Agencies (PRA's). These are An Garda Siochána (AGS) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

 

Wednesday 6th January - Wednesday 13th January 2010
The winter of 2009 proved to be one of the wettest on record. In late December a cold spell began with night-time temperatures routinely falling to below -50C. A record low of -170C was recorded in Carlow on the night if the 09th / 10th January. The cold spell reached its nadir over the weekend of 08th to 11th of January 2010 and did not abate until the 14th.

Over the 8 days inclusive from Wednesday 6th January - Wednesday 13th January 2010 Kilkenny Civil Defence established an emergency call centre in Kilkenny Civil Defences newly acquired Training HQ. The emergency phone numbers were established and the phones were manned by Kilkenny Civil Defence volunteers and employees form Kilkenny Local Authorities. During the first 4 days the number of emergency calls dealt with was in excess of 900. Kilkenny Civil Defence distributed water and essentials to over 90 homes along with assisting in the transportation of Public Health Nurses, Home Care Assistants, Dialysis Patients, Cancer Patients, transportation of patients to rest-bite centres, delivered meals for the Meals on Wheels, distributed fuel and food for the Saint Vincent De Paul and transported Nurses to and from work in both Kilkenny and Carlow. In carrying out these civic duties we were aided by Wexford Civil Defence, Waterford City Civil Defence, South East Mountain Rescue, Snow Busters and members of Kilkenny Civil Defence in their own vehicles.

 

Monday 29th November - Saturday 11th December
Over 13 days from Monday 29th November until Saturday 11th December Kilkenny Civil Defence assisted in the transportation of over 17 Public Health Nurses each averaging 3/4 visits, numerous Home Care Assistants, Dialysis Patients, Cancer Patients, transportation of patients to rest-bite centres, delivered meals for the Meals on Wheels, distributed fuel and food for the Saint Vincent De Paul and transported Nurses to and from work in both Kilkenny and Carlow. In carrying out these civic duties we were aided by Wexford Civil Defence, Waterford City Civil Defence, South East Mountain Rescue, Snow Busters and members of Kilkenny Civil Defence in their own vehicles.

The volunteers of Kilkenny Civil Defence alone contributed in excess of 360 man hours over 13 days, all voluntary

 

28th and 29th December 2010
Kilkenny Local Authorities Water Service in conjunction with Kilkenny Civil Defence established an emergency call centre in Kilkenny Civil Defences HQ off County Hall, Johns Street, Kilkenny for members of the public with water and other related emergencies.

The volunteers of Kilkenny Civil Defence alone contributed in excess of 94 man hours over 2 days, all voluntary.

 

 

 

The seven fire brigades in Kilkenny County Council Fire Service were mobilised over 1,000 times in 2006. The average time to turn out a fire engine from the time the call was received was 5.9 minutes. The fire service was in attendance at 43.33% of emergencies within 10 minutes of being called, 42.50% within 20 minutes and 14.17% in over 20 minutes.

The Fire Service went into the Eastern Regional Control Centre on the 7th November 2006 and closed down the Control Room in Kilkenny City Fire Station. The three Control Room Operators were made redundant.

The fire service had to deal with a number of incidents with acetylene cylinder involved in fires in workshops. 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.

The Fire Service attended a major fire in Hotel Kilkenny involving five of the seven Brigades in the County. There were also a number of major Road Traffic Accidents during the year.

 

Fire fighters tackling a chimney fire at Castle Blunden

House fire at Johnswell, Kilkenny

Acetylene cylinder at workshop fire at Legan, Thomastown

 

 

Training

• A one day refresher on First Aid and Trauma was held for 7 no. firefighters in April 2006.
• A one day Breathing Apparatus course was held for all firefighters in March 2006.
• A one week Pump Operator/Drivers course was held for 5 no. firefighters in September 2006.
• All firefighters subsequently passed the driving test first time.
• Senior and Junior Officer training was ongoing during 2006.
• The courses that officers attended are as follows :-
  • Operational Command Course (Development)
  • Road Traffic Accident Course; Unit II Course
  • Fire Safety Engineering Course
  • Hazmat Course
  • Operational Command Course
  • Unit I Course
  • Media Handling Course
  • Fire Services Council Seminars.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Killian Hennessy achieved a Masters Degree in Fire Science during 2006.

 

 

Purchase of Vehicles and Equipment

One second hand jeep was purchased to replace a 20 year old jeep. A class B water tender was purchased for Freshford fire brigade. The appliance was delivered in the final quarter of 2006. Approval was given by the DOEHLG to go to Tender for and purchase another new Class B Fire Engine. This was tendered for in late 2006 and ordered in early 2007. It should be delivered in the third quarter of 2007.

Approval was granted by the DOEHLG to go to tender for new Road Traffic Accident equipment for all seven Fire Stations. The tender was advertised and tenders received by the end of 2006.

The new Fire Station in Freshford was begun and it was hoped it would be finished by the end of December. However delays occurred and it is hoped that the Fire Brigade will into the new Station by the end of March/early April 2007.

Drawings and tender documentation were prepared for the new Fire Station in Castlecomer. These were sent to the DOEHLG. There have been ongoing discussions regarding the documentation.

 

 

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 fire safety awareness campaign through the local radio station in conjunction with Carlow Fire Service on a monthly basis started in March of this year. Senior fire officers from Kilkenny and Carlow Fire Services gave regular interviews on the local radio station with respect to promoting fire safety.

 

School visits to the fire station. - Regular school visits are arranged to the fire station on Wednesdays each week. Over 400 primary school children visited the fire station in 2006. 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

A total of 231 fire safety certificates were received and 221 applications were processed. Over 40 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 12 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 €12,000 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.

 

 

Kilkenny Civil Defence

2006 Statistics

Total Volunteer Strenght	75
Total Cost to Local Authority per Volunteer	1.25 E/diem
Total Community Support Events	29
Total Community Support Man Days by volunteers	175
Total No. of Training nights	55
Total Number of Personnel attending Training nights	420
Total No. of Training Exercises	20
Total Training Exercise Man-days by volunteers	300
Total Operational Emergency Call-outs	5

 

Main Events of 2006

1. Seventh Annual Charity Walk on Brandonhill for Volunteers.
2. Civil Defence Board Advanced Leadership Course for Volunteers.
3. Leadership Training in Graiguenamanagh in February.
4. Kilkenny members attend Search skills course in Roscrea.
5. Search and Rescue exercise at Jerpoint hill Thomastown area.
6. Two day Water Search and Rescue course on Lough Derg.
7. South East Region Leadership course in Graiguenamanagh.
8. Community Support for St. Patricks Day Parades.
9. A.F.S. Instructor trained at Fire Brigade Training Centre in Cork.
10. Summer Camp for Volunteers in Portumna.
11. Kilkenny vols. attend stand down of Civil Defence school in Dublin.
12. Community support for Kilkenny hurling team homecoming ceremonies.
13. Kilkenny volunteers attend opening ceremony of new H.Q. in Roscrea.
14. Community support for Ballytobin open day.
15. Provision of Winter flood relief assistance in Inistioge.
16. Visit of 10 Isle of Man Volunteers to Kilkenny.
17. A.E.D. Course provided for Kilkenny volunteers.
18. Operational Land and River search for missing person in Waterford.
19. Participation in Hospital Emergency Exercise with Fire-Service in October.
20. Annual Christmas Exercise in Graiguenamanagh.

 

 

 

2002 - Operational Statistics

Total number of fires attended by brigades	388
False Alarms	146
Miscellaneous calls	134
Oil Spillages	125
Road Traffic Accident attendances	120
TOTAL	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.

 

The Fire Crew at Kilkenny Fire Station	Fire Jeep	Fire Engine
Firemen in training exercise		Firemen putting out a fire

 

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.

 

EMERGENCY SERVICES-PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

Time in minutes to mobilise Fire Brigade in part time stations : 4-7 minutes

 

 

 

The seven fire brigades in Kilkenny County Council Fire Service were mobilised 1,138 times in 2007. 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 41.71% of emergencies within 10 minutes of being called, 45.02% within 20 minutes and 13.27% in over 20 minutes.

 

Training

• A one day refresher on First Aid and Trauma was held for 10 no. firefighters in April 2007.
• A one day Breathing Apparatus course was held for all firefighters in March 2007.
• A one week Pump Operator/Drivers course was held for 3 no. firefighters in September 2007. All firefighters subsequently passed the driving test first time.
• Senior and Junior Officer training was ongoing during 2007. The courses that officers attended are as follows -
  • Operational Command Course (Development)
  • Road Traffic Accident Refresher
  • Unit II Course
  • Fire Safety Engineering Course
  • Hazmat Course
  • Operational Command Course
  • Unit I Course
  • Fire Services Council Seminars

 

Driver Pump Operator Course, August 2007

Back Row From LHS - Keith Beehan (KK14), Stephen Campbell (KK11), Declan Heafey (KK15)
Front Row From LHS - Kieran Howley - Instructor, SACFO John Collins - Course Director, Michael Rowe - Instructor, Frank Somers - Instructor

 

Pictures of Road Traffic Accident Refresher Course in October 2007

                

 

Purchase of Vehicles and Equipment

A class B water tender was purchased for Castlecomer fire brigade. The appliance was delivered in the final quarter of 2007.

Approval was granted by the DOEHLG to purchase Road Traffic Collision equipment for all seven Fire Stations. Each fire Station has now received the most modern RTA equipment to deal with road traffic collisions.

The new Fire Station in Freshford was opened in June 2007 by the Chairman of Kilkenny County Council, Billy Ireland.

Drawings and tender documentation were approved for the new Fire Station in Castlecomer.

 

Community Fire Safety - Primary School Programme, April 2007

The Primary Schools Programme was launched in April 2007. The Primary Schools Programme (PSP) has been designed to enhance the level of awareness of Fire Safety in the home and to raise the level of awareness of Fire Safety in the community. The objective of this programme is to deliver Fire Safety education to 53,000, 3rd class, primary school children (approx. 9 years old) in approximately 3,300 schools across the country nationwide. The school children are expected, as part of their homework, to interact with their families on the elements of the programme. This interaction puts the problem and the solution together in the same place at the same time making it more likely that any Fire Safety issues in the home will be immediately and successfully addressed. To make the PSP more effective and attractive to the children the "Safety Team" pack is to be included and each of the students receiving the programme will receive a pack.

The PSP was delivered to all Primary Schools in the county Kilkenny, 80 no., who have accepted the Fire Brigades offer to present the lesson. Fire Rescue Service personnel will present it to 3rd class students, which positively links the local Fire Rescue Brigade with the community. The aim is to present the lesson to 100% of all primary schools in county Kilkenny.

 

Trauma Bears Join Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service, Nov 2007

More distressed children at the scene of road traffic collisions and other incidents across Kilkenny are set to be comforted and relaxed - thanks to a new initiative of special trauma teddies to be used by Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service. All front-line fire tenders in Kilkenny now have access to a unique piece of equipment which could reduce the suffering of children at operational incidents - a Trauma Teddy Bear!

                

Over 100 cuddly teddy bears have become part of the team, assigned to a very important task. The bears ride on every frontline fire tender in Kilkenny. The Teddy's are part of an initiative to help children during traumatic emergency situations.

The intention is primarily to reduce the suffering of children at incidents and to help children cope with the stress that they feel from their involvement in a traumatic event. When children are involved in emergencies, it can be a traumatic experience for them. In order to soften the impact that an emergency may have on our children we have implemented this new "Trauma Bear" initiative. We hope to change their focus to a comforting object during a difficult situation.

The cute teddy bears - called Bravo Bear - were handed over first to Station Officer Joe Traynor of Kilkenny City (KK11) and Station Officer Eamon Doyle of Graiguenamanagh (KK17) on Friday 28th September 2007 at 14.00 pm at Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters. The remaining 'Bravo Bears' have been sent to the rest of the brigade stations in the county.

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 fire safety awareness campaign through the local radio station in conjunction with Carlow Fire Service on a monthly basis started in March of this year. Senior fire officers from Kilkenny and Carlow Fire Services gave regular interviews on the local radio station with respect to promoting fire safety.

 

School visits to the fire station

Regular school visits are arranged to the fire station on Wednesdays each week. Over 400 primary school children visited the fire station in 2007. 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

A total of 242 fire safety certificates were processed.

Over 40 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 12 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

Personnel from Kilkenny Ambulance Service; Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service partook in the now Annual Christmas charity collection for local beneficial organisations in need. This year the two recipients are Arthritis Ireland and Saplings School for Autism Children. They each received €7,250.00 for their needy causes. 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.

 

Kilkenny Civil Defence

2007 Statistics

Registered  Volunteer Membership	74
Total Community Support Events	20
Total Community Support Man Days	180
Total Training nights	50
Attendance	650
Total Training Exercises	15
Total Operational Emergency Call-outs	10

 

Main Events of 2007

1. Annual Charity Walk on Brandonhill for 35 members.
2. Boat training for Coxwains on Lough Derg Co. Tipperary.
3. Attendance of 3 Volunteers at EMT Course in the Isle of Man in February
4. Attendance of 3 Volunteers at Regional Leadership Course in March.
5. Operational duty at St.Patrick's Day Parades in Kilkenny, Graignamanagh
6. Provision of Tented Accomodation, first-aid, transport for Reserve Defence Forces participation in Annual President's Awards in May.
7. Annual Week end training camp at Mountshannon on Lough Derg.
8. Isle of Man Mutual Exchange visit on Tynwald Day.
9. Pollution Control support to Clonmel Urban District.
10. The annual outdoor Field-Day and BBQ. In support of O.N.E.
11. Operational support for homecoming of Kilkenny Hurling Team.
12. AED Training programme for Volunteers commenced in September.
13. Two Rescue boat crews from Kilkenny involved in recovery of Missing person on the River Barrow at Graiguemanagh / Ullard.
14. Annual Christmas Exercise and Presentation Dinner for 60 Volunteers.