The seven fire brigades in Kilkenny County Council Fire and Rescue Service were mobilised 1,330 times in 2009.

Firefighters from Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh wearing Gas tight suits whilst
being decontaminated after dealing with a chemical incident near Belview Port.

 

Training

The following training was provided:

• Refresher training in Incident Command for all firefighters.
• First Aid and Trauma Refresher Course for a number of firefighters.
• Pump Operator/Drivers Course for a number of firefighters.
• Training for Senior and Junior Fire Officers as outlined in the Fire Services Council Training Programme 2009.
• Confined space training to all fire fighters.

 

Capital Projects

• The construction of Castlecomer Fire Station started in August 2009.
• Approval was sought for the construction of new fire station for Graiguenamanagh and Urlingford.
• The delivery of 2 no. Water Tankers for Thomastown and Freshford took place. .
• Approval for the purchase of a new Fire Engine for Graiguenamangh was sought.
• Approval to go to tender for a new Fire Engine for Thomastown Fire Brigade took place.

 

Health and Safety

• A major review and update of Kilkenny County Council Fire and Rescue Ancillary Safety Statement took place.
• The purchase and supply of the necessary Personal Protective Equipment and Safety Equipment is ongoing.

 

 

Community Fire Safety - Kilkenny College 'Careers Evening'

Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service have a good working relationship with Kilkenny College over a long number of years. This includes the areas of 'Fire Safety Reviews', to delivery of 'Education Workshops' and 'Ethics Lectures' for transition year students. The Fire and Rescue Service has also taken a stand and partook in the Kilkenny College Careers Evening, which has proven to be hugely valuable to the students of the College.

 

Junior Achievements Awards with Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service

After completing the first class programme 'Our Families', the 1^st class pupils of St. John's Junior school were treated to a trip to Kilkenny Fire Service Headquarters for the Presentation of their certificates and to learn about fire safety. The enthusiasm and excitement of the children remind us why Kilkenny County Council are proud to be involved with the Junior Achievement programme in going out to the young in our schools.

School Name: St. John's Junior School, Kilkenny City.
Class: 1^st Class
Teacher: Sarah Murphy

 

School visits to the fire station

Primary Schools arrange to visit fire service headquarters as part of the annual school trip. Over 200 primary school children visited the fire station in 2009. 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.

 

Community Fire Safety - Primary School Programme

The Primary Schools Programme re-commenced in September 2009. 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, 79no., who have accepted the Fire Brigades offer to present the lesson. Fire and Rescue Service personnel will present it to 3rd class students, which positively links the local Fire and Rescue Brigade with their community.

 

Fire Safety Certificates

2009 saw a considerable drop in the number of Fire Safety Certificate applications received. A total of 98 applications were received in 2009, a drop of some 48% from 2008. These were dealt with in-house by Fire Prevention Staff.

 

Fire Services Act Inspections

Fire Prevention staff made a considerable number of visits both to provide advice and to enforce current legislation. All buildings so visited were upgraded and improved as result of these inspections.

Inspections were made to licensed premises, public buildings and other building types.

 

MEM (rolled out)

The Major Emergency Development Programme was developed continuously during 2009 with training being delivered to key staff. The development of the Local Coordination Centre in County Hall was improved with facilities being provided to coordinate a response anywhere in the County. There was considerable input towards developing inter-agency procedures with An Garda Síochána and the Health Services Executive.

 

MEM Exercise Orion

The Major Emergency Development Programme was tested with Exercise Orion 0n the 08^th October. The exercise scenario consisted of a forced landing of a 50 seat aircraft on the M9 motorway involving secondary collisions with traffic. The exercise was considered to be a resounding success with excellent interagency cooperation between the Local Authority, An Garda Síochána and the Health Services Executive.

The exercise tested the capability to respond with a Local Coordination Centre and an On Site Coordination Centre (shown). A heavy emphasis was placed on the media relations in particular.

The exercise was played out by the all levels of management in the County from the three Principal Response Agencies and several areas for improvement were identified. The exercise forms part of a three year rolling cycle of exercises in the South East Region.

 

Fundraising

Personnel from Kilkenny Ambulance Service, Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service partook in the now Annual Christmas charity collection for local organisations in need. This year the two recipients were Ceart and St Patricks Parish for the Elderly. They each received €3500 for their needy causes. In addition during the year all the Brigades were involved in raising approx €8400 involved in a very successful fundraising event (Mount Everest Ladder Climb) for The Special Olympics Ireland. Graiguenamangh Fire Brigade also raised over €4000 for Our Ladys Crumlin Childrens Hospital.

 

Inter-agency training

Fire Extinguisher Awareness Training with An Garda Síochána

Fire extinguisher awareness training courses was provided by Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service officers for members of An Garda Síochána and their civilian staff in their District and Divisional Headquarters.

The topics covered items such as how to use a fire extinguisher; which type for what application; Know the different classes of fires; Know some of the different uses of fire extinguishers; Recite and expand the firefighting mnemonic P.A.S.S.; Be able to identify fire hazards in the workplace.

Course one - Fire Extinguisher Awareness Training (Kilkenny City Station)

From the LHS: ACFO Frank Dunne - Course Instructor; Emer Cuddy; Gda Kieran Scanlon; Gda K. Leahy;
Sgt J. Hanlon; Gda P. McGettigan; Karen Burke; SACFO Killian J. Hennessy - Course Instructor.

 

Course two - Fire Extinguisher Awareness Training (Thomastown Station)

From the LHS: SACFO Killian J. Hennessy - Course Instructor; Sgt J. Donohoe; Gda D. Deasy; Gda T. Roche;
Gda M. Prendergast; Ellen Doherty; Sgt T. Hughes; SACFO Frank Dunne - Course Instructor.