Firecall Summer 2016 by Ashville Media Group

FIRECALL

SUMMER 2016

FIRECALL OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DUBLIN FIRE, AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

VOLUME EIGHTEEN ISSUE TWO

Remembering

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CONTENTS

EDITOR’S LETTER

FOREWORD

DFB IN BRIEF 10

INTERNATIONAL LINES A combined NIFRS/DFB team took on players from FireSport UK in Dalymount Park in June.

21 LESSONS FROM THE FIELD The annual Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) conference was held at the Malton Hotel, Killarney last May.

GOODBYE TO TONY DEVOY Tony Devoy will be a sorely missed figure in Dublin Fire Brigade, writes former Sports and Social Club General Secretary Greg O’Dwyer.

GARDEN HEAVEN

PARTNERS IN SERVICE Nutgrove Fire Station took part in their second annual open day, in aid of Blood Bikes East.

KARTING FOR CRUMLIN

Last May, six firefighters set off for a 120km trip along the Grand Canal – on go-karts.

Recognised

Selfie

SUCCESS AT THE SOCKIES

Dublin Fire Brigade were delighted to win their category at the Sockies last May! Bevin Herbert, Trevor Hunt and Ray McMonagle report.

32 SERVICE

SAVE A

FF/P Seán Peters, B watch Finglas, fills us in on how selfies can save lives!

The crew of B watch No 3 recently unveiled their fantastic memorial garden, created in memory of fallen firefighters.

JOINING THE RANKS

Forty-three new recruits have completed their training and joined their respective fire services in Dublin, Louth and Limerick.

A number of individuals and organisations were honoured at the recent Lord Mayor’s Awards, including Dublin Fire Brigade.

CONTENTS FIRECALL SUMMER

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CONTENTS

REMEMBERING THE FALLEN

RETIRED MEMBERS:

Harry O’Keeffe We sat down with centenarian Harry O’Keeffe to discover more about life in DFB during the Emergency and the following years, as well as his efforts to improve the workplace for his fellow firefighters.

Recent football and GAA matches against firefighters from New York were held in honour of fallen firefighters, writes retired Station Officer Tadhg Fallon.

DUBLIN IN 1916

Dublin City Council has launched an essay collection examining its role in the 1916 Rising, including a chapter by DFB’s own Las Fallon.

52 CAPTAIN CONNOLLY THE LIFE AND TIMES OF

STATION PROFILE

Dr Tracey Connolly recalls her grandfather, DFB Chief Officer Joe Connolly, and the enduring legacy of the early twentieth century Dublin Fire Brigade.

The latest cohort of Dublin Fire Brigade advanced paramedic students recently completed a day of training exercises in the OBI, alongside colleagues from the National Ambulance Service and the Defence Forces.

Canadian military firefighters undertake an interesting and varied role across Canada’s Armed Forces bases, including operations conducted overseas.

REVOLUTIONARY READING

Las Fallon picks out the cream of the crop of books recently published on the Easter Rising.

TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS

The latest developments in firefighting and EMS technology.

MOTORING Conor Forrest took a spin in Audi’s fantastic new R8.

Conor Forrest travelled to Skerries and Balbriggan retained fire stations to learn more about the circumstances and challenges they face in North County Dublin.

TRAINING DAY

CANADIAN FORCE

Emergency in

EQUADOR

A devastating earthquake destroyed thousands of buildings and killed hundreds of people earlier this year in Ecuador.

BELFAST AND 56 THE BLITZ Dublin Fire Brigade historian Las Fallon was among those in attendance at a recent event in Belfast to commemorate the Belfast Blitz.

INTERNATIONAL

NEWS

CONTENTS SUMMER 02 FIRECALL

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EDITOR’S LETTER Editor: Conor Forrest Consulting Editors: Dan Fynes & Bevin Herbert Contributors: Orla Connolly, Sean Peters, Dr Tracey Connolly, Tadhg Fallon, Las Fallon, Bevin Herbert, Greg O’Dwyer Editorial and Production Manager: Mary Connaughton Design and Layout: Jennifer Reid Cover credit: Recruit class 1/2016. Photo: Conor Forrest Photography: DFB, Trevor Hunt, Conor Forrest, Northern Ireland War Memorial, Dr Tracey Connolly, Donnacha Foley, Canadian Armed Forces/Canadian Forces Fire and Emergency Services, Colm Mahady/ Fennell Photography, B watch No. 3, Derek Riordan, Robbie Reynolds Photography, Julie McCoy, Tyco International, BMW, PRNewsFoto/Seek Thermal, Cina & Anneli Fotografer/Anneli Larsson, Polara Studio, Tactical Robotics, Roost, ResponderX, Hugh Threlfall, Tony Devoy, Audi, UNICEF/ECU/2016/ Arcos, Albert Masias/MSF, The Malton Hotel, David Hogan, Ray McMonagle, O’Keeffe family, Scott Sight, Cpl Katie Hodges, MCPL Mary Mechalko, Polaro Studio Sales Director: Paul Clemenson Production Executive: Claire Kiernan Publisher: Chesterfox Ltd, T/A Firecall Magazine, P.O. Box 6766, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 432 2200; Fax: (01) 672 7100 Managing Director: Gerry Tynan Distribution by: Magazine Mailing Ashville Media Group Old Stone Building, Blackhall Green, Dublin 7 Tel: (01) 432 2200 Fax: (01) 676 6043 Publisher’s Statement: The information in Firecall is carefully researched and believed to be accurate and authoritative, but neither the Dublin Fire Brigade Sports & Social Club nor the publisher can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Statements and opinions expressed herein are not n ecessarily those of the Editor or of the publisher. Copyright ©2016 Firecall Magazine No part of this may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

letter from the

EDITOR ear readers, Welcome to the spring issue of Firecall filled, as always, with news and features both from Dublin Fire Brigade and your colleagues around the world. This year marks a momentous anniversary in the history of our State, with myriad events and exhibitions being held around the country to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising in 1916. Building on an extensive commemoration programme earlier this year, Dublin Fire Brigade continues to contribute to national commemorative endeavours, and hosted Gaelic and soccer teams from FDNY over Easter weekend in honour of fallen members. Dr Tracey Connolly, grandaughter of former DFB chief Joe Connolly, also shares both the story and her memories of the man who fought for Irish freedom on the streets of Dublin in 1916. In this issue’s station profile, I travelled to Balbriggan and Skerries retained fire stations, to discover more about the challenges they face on a daily basis, the difficult life of a retained firefighter, and the committed crew on duty in both North Dublin towns. We also cover the most recent Chief Fire Officers’ conference in Kerry, a new memorial garden at No 3, and the charitable exploits of the firefighters at Nutgrove Fire Station, who pedaled 120km along the Grand Canal in aid of Crumlin Hospital in May. Looking beyond Ireland’s borders, I spoke with Commandant Major Neil Anderson, head of the Canadian Armed Forces’ firefighting training academy, to learn more about military firefighting in Canada. We also look at the most recent earthquake in Ecuador, which shook a nation already struggling with a stuttering economy. Finally, one for the petrolheads – I recount a recent spin in the fantastic Audi R8.

EDITOR’S PICKS REMEMBERING CAPTAIN CONNOLLY

Dr Tracey Connolly recalls her grandfather’s life.

p CANADIAN FORCE

Firefighting in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Hope you enjoy the read,

Conor Forrest

We are updating our mailing list. If your contact details are out of date, please email: conor.forrest@ ashvillemediagroup.com.

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

QUALITY THROUGH

EXPERIENCE

One of Ireland’s leading fuel management suppliers, Fuelling Technology has recently partnered with Dublin Fire Brigade. Managing Director Shane Pemberton explains a little more about what they do.

ased in Chapelizod in Dublin, Fuelling Technology is one of the country’s leading suppliers of fuel management systems and fuel dispensing equipment. Established in 2008, the firm has its roots in an earlier organisation, Irish Pump and Tank, owned by Managing Director Shane Pemberton’s father-in-law, and was the market leader in its time for 40 years. Today the company has moved into a new era, working with county councils, haulage businesses, large mechanical sites, oil companies and others to provide quality, backed up by experience, professionalism and an emphasis on superior customer service. Fuelling Technology also supplies the highest quality range of fuel systems in Ireland and the UK – Fueltek – and serve as their main distributor on these shores. “We’re involved in the supply, installation, maintenance and service of fuel management systems and fuel dispensing equipment,” Pemberton explains. “We deal mainly with the transport and service industries – we supply and install tanks, fuel dispensing pumps, fuel management systems, wetstock management and pipework on site.”

MODERN SOLUTIONS Technology continues to play a key role in the services they provide, which offer a more modern and efficient solution. Their web-based fuel system, for example, involves assigning a tag and PIN to each customer vehicle. When fuel is drawn, a record is kept of the vehicle filled, the locations, and

fuel consumption. This data is relayed to a web server hosted by Fuelling Technology, which allows accounts and management personnel to generate accurate reports for both individual departments and vehicles. It’s undoubtedly this emphasis on modern and yet simple solutions which led to the revitalisation of the company’s relationship with Dublin Fire Brigade. DFB was in search of a local company to service Dublin’s fire stations, and Fuelling Technology fit the bill. “The relationship has been fantastic. DFB are easy to deal with and they know what they want,” says Pemberton. “The site servicing runs 24/7. We are required to provide coverage if they need us, when they need us. Reliability is key to our success.”

A STEP APART The Dublin-based company prides itself on two principles – excellent service and quality products, with staff

on hand to ensure they are constantly adhered to. The team of experienced engineers, for example, has more than 20 years of experience in the sector, and includes Paul Doyle and Robert Gorman, both of whom served their time with Irish Pump and Tank, and have been with Fuelling Technology since 2008. “All of our staff are directly employed, we don’t use subcontractors if at all possible. We have a highly skilled team in place and are the main distributors of commercial refuelling equipment in Ireland,” says Pemberton. “We also supply the top range of fuel management systems in the UK and Ireland. It’s all about quality of service and reliability of product and Fuelling Technology are the market leaders in both.” FOR MORE INFORMATION: PHONE 01 626 4977 OR EMAIL INFO@FUELLINGTECHNOLOGY.IE

FIRECALL SUMMER

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

LIFELONG SUCCESS IT Carlowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emergency services management programmes produce graduates who can make a difference within their field.

he Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Emergency Services Management offers students the opportunity to pursue a qualification that is both practical and academic. The programme has recently been revalidated to include updates to align with emerging developments in the emergency sector. The traditional modules such as Management, Business Law, Organisational Behaviour and Strategic Management still exist, plus specific modules such as Health & Safety and Safety Management Systems, Fire Safety Law and Incident Command & Risk Management. Critical Incident Stress Management will keep students abreast of developments in the emergency services sector.

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The aim of the programme is to produce graduates who are equipped with sufficient knowledge, skills and techniques to be able to make an immediate contribution to the emergency services sector. The programme will also prepare graduates for lifelong learning so that they will be able to further develop their knowledge and skills through experience, professional and/or academic education. The programme, which is delivered in Dublin, is designed for delivery around participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; working lives. As busy working lives, coupled with a modern, hectic lifestyle, can impact on learning, this programme affords students the opportunity to exit with an academic award at the end of any of the completed academic stages.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING IT Carlow responds to requests for recognition of prior learning, which may be used to gain entry to an advanced stage of the programme or to grant exemptions to one or more modules of the programme where the learner is deemed to have learning equivalent to the overall learning of the previous stage(s) of the programme or of the module(s) for which exemption is sought. This can include certified learning through a higher education institution, NFQ level awards, or uncertified learning including relevant life and work experience. IT Carlow is currently taking enrolments for the above programmes. For more information visit www.itcarlow.ie, call 059 917 5286 or email llldublin@itcarlow.ie.

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FOREWORD

General Secretary’s

FOREWORD elcome readers, Our second issue of Firecall for 2016 is full of news and features covering everything from our new recruits to the latest firefighting technology. The past few months have been a positive period for Dublin Fire Brigade – having received the Lord Mayor’s Award in May for our services to Dublin city, we also picked up an award for Best Social Media of a State Body at the recent Social Media Awards. We also bring you photos and interviews from Nutgrove fire station’s successful open day in aid of Blood Bikes East, as well as the latest technological gadgets and developments for firefighters and emergency services personnel around the globe. This issue’s retired member profile focuses on retired firefighter Harry O’Keeffe who, born in 1916, celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year. We spoke with Harry to discover more about life in DFB during the Emergency and the following years, as well as his efforts to improve the workplace for his fellow firefighters. And, for the year that’s in it, we look at the launch of a new publication – DCC and the Rising – featuring a chapter on DFB from our own Las Fallon, as well as recent trips north to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Belfast bombings. Finally, we’ve got our usual round-up of memorable social media posts and pictures, photos from the latest recruit passout at the Brigade training centre, and a tribute to Sports and Social Club Treasurer Tony Devoy, who has retired FUELLING TECHNOLOGY from the job. We wish him all the best for his future endeavours.

DAN FYNES

Our kid’s fun day will take place on Sunday August 28th. See our Facebook and Twitter pages for times and details.

SUMMER 2016

FIRECALL OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DUBLIN FIRE, AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

Enjoy the read,

Dan Fynes

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Remembering

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CAPTAIN CONNOLLY

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DFB IN BRIEF

DFB

A recap of Dublin Fire Brigade news and events over the past few weeks and months.

1. Tallaght crews fight a car fire in west Dublin. 2. The annual Nutgrove open day was a huge success, and we’re looking forward to 2017’s event already. 1

3. April marked the end of two careers in Dublin Fire Brigade as two long serving members embark on a hopefully long and enjoyable retirement. Sub Officer Paul ‘Moose’ Byrne retired from Dún Laoghaire fire station after 34 years of service with the brigade. Moose is also an active member of the DFB Pipe and Drum band. Firefighter/Paramedic Keith ‘Cabbo’ Pierce retired from Headquarters after 30 years serving the Dublin community.

4. B watch attending a shed on fire in Dunsink, Finglas. 5. The All-Ireland Fire Service team who beat @ firesportuk last June in Dalymount Park 4 #EURO2016.

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DFB IN BRIEF 6. DFB’s 32 new Station Officers. 7. Fighting a large derelict structure fire in Rathcoole – five pumps, Environmental Unit and a District Officer. 8. After 34 years of service, Firefighter Tony Nealon started his last night duty on April 8th. Tony spent his entire career on B Watch and finished in Phibsborough fire station. Thanks to Tony for his service and we wish him well for the future! 9. On June 5th, Station Officer Tony Devoy called his last slate to D Watch, Headquarters. Tony has served with the brigade for over 31 years and was treasurer of the DFB Sports and Social Club. 10. Some very creative cooks in Finglas Fire Station. #COYBIG #EURO2016 7

11. Retired firefighter Harry O’Keeffe turned 100 and was presented with a commemorative DFB badge from 1916, as well as a medal celebrating DFB’s 150 years of service to the city of Dublin. Harry attended many calls throughout his career and was one of the first firemen on scene at the 1941 North Strand bombing raid where he rescued a woman trapped in a bombed house.

10 7

9 11

12. Congratulations to Class 1/2016 who passed out in the training centre in April, including firefighters from Limerick and Louth fire services. A great display was put on and special thanks to the course directors along with all the instructors. FIRECALL SUMMER

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RETIRED MEMBERS

Goodbye to

TONY DEVOY Tony Devoy will be a sorely missed figure in Dublin Fire Brigade, writes former Sports and Social Club General Secretary Greg O’Dwyer.

first met Tony in the summer of 1990 in No 9 (Coolmine), when he looked like a Navan Road version of Kevin Keegan. I was transferred out there for a night and ended up spending six months there. This was a great time, with a great crew, who were obviously very happy and tightly-gelled. I was lucky to be allowed to temporarily squeeze into their family for a while – another place setting at the coveted Mick Finglas dinner table. Tony, or ‘Toto’ as he was christened then, was obviously very affectionately thought of by all of his colleagues and held the honourable station record of being able to down the most ‘roasters’ in one sitting – 23 I believe! Toto immediately struck me as a very sound and a head-well-screwed-on type of character. It wasn’t until a few years later when I really got to know Toto over a few pints in Lucan Village, and even more so when he joined the DFB Sports and Social Club committee. We really started to get to know each other by all going for a few pints after meetings and the various events the committee organised.

LIFE ON THE JOB Some years later I had the good fortune to start working with Toto as a fellow officer on the watch, where I could see that the person I knew to be a genuine, intelligent and committed person was equally so in his

Tony and some of the crew from D watch

Some years later I had the good fortune to start working with Toto as a fellow officer on the watch, where I could see that the person I knew to be a genuine, intelligent and committed person was equally so in his profession.

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RETIRED MEMBERS

Greg O’Dwyer, Ray Murray and Tony

instructors’ courses in the training centre; including being a well-liked and approachable Syndicate Officer on recruit firefighter training. Such was Toto’s professional acumen and ability that it was inevitable and welldeserved that he would be promoted to Station Officer, competently serving on B watch Nutgrove and then finally coming home to D watch HQ, serving as Acting District Officer, where he started out over 30 years ago. Toto served so well in all of these capacities because of his personal attributes and traits, something which no doubt an upbringing in Dublin 7 had a positive affect on. What words would you use to sum up these personal traits and application to his career in DFB, and his attitude to life in general? They are all based around his overarching trait of respect, in that he is respected by, and respectful to, anyone who has ever had the good fortune to work with him. He is honourable, loyal, committed, trustworthy, intelligent, disciplined; all of which are issued through a respected, respectful and unassuming tone of humility. Tony was never boastful or assertive in how he was going to achieve things, he simply got on about doing them, without ever causing upset or offence. A great mark of somebody’s success in this world is not their achievements, but in how they achieved them and how others perceived them. Tony did this with the highest external perception possible – not a single bad word! As Irish people it is partly in our nature to want to knock people down who do well, to take them down a peg or two, just because we can. So inevitably, anyone that does well, or succeeds in their profession, will always have a few condescending comments and knockers – not so for Toto! In all of the positions and locations I have mentioned, I have never heard a single bad word spoken about him, not from anyone. I have only heard compliments and kind words of appreciation for how he dealt with and respected them. On a personal note, Toto is without doubt one of the most honourable people I know. He is so honourable

because he is so loyal to everyone and everything he commits to, both in his personal and professional life, an enviable trait. But Toto is so much more the sum of all these parts – he is a great firefighter, a great officer, a great person and, lucky for me, a great friend. Without exception, always there when you need him. When I first heard Tony was retiring I was upset, upset because I thought he was retiring too early and had so much more to give. But when I finally thought about it enough to accept it, I realised that I wasn’t upset for Tony, I was being selfish and was upset for myself. I just didn’t want to return to a DFB without Toto in it. It’s a huge loss for DFB, the citizens of Dublin and for me personally, but I have to accept that our loss is his and his family’s gain, and I wish him everything possible that he has in his sights. I have been so lucky and privileged to work and serve alongside Tony Devoy, but I have been blessed and honoured to do so as a friend.

A WORD FROM THE HON SECRETARY

profession. For me these were Tony’s best years, where he contributed so much to the organisation he loved and always appreciated. Toto transcended from firefighter to officer with ease, because he stayed true to his principles as a person and his priorities as a firefighter. During the following years he gave great service to DFB and the people of Dublin, working as a Sub/Officer on D watch HQ, the East Region Communications Centre (or CAMP as it was known then), and B watch Dolphin’s Barn. During this time he also took on many additional contributions in the form of volunteering for training and

On behalf of the Dublin Fire Brigade Sports and Social Club I would like to wish Station Officer Tony Devoy a long and happy retirement. Tony has spent 31 years as a part of Dublin Fire Brigade and more than 20 of them as a committee member of the DFBSSC. Having started as a station representative for Blanchardstown and progressing to assistant treasurer and then treasurer for the last ten years, Tony has been an integral part of the DFB Sports and Social Club and his presence and experience will be sorely missed at committee level. I would like to thank Tony for his service to the club and wish him well in his next adventure!

FIRECALL SUMMER

Volunteer hikers were in plentiful supply throughout the month. Photo: Sarah Good

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MEMORIAL GARDEN

Garden

HEAVEN

The crew of B watch No 3 recently unveiled their fantastic memorial garden, created in memory of fallen firefighters.

estled in the back corner of Phibsborough fire station’s yard, across from the training tower, is a little slice of nature in the form of a flowering memorial garden. It’s a serene location away from the usual hectic life at a fire station, and was developed both as an area where firefighters can come to reflect after a bad incident, for example, and a secluded space in memory of fallen firefighters. “One of the lads on the watch died suddenly – Leon Rafferty, badge number 1108. He was here for eight or nine years. He died suddenly in tragic circumstances, a young man with three kids,” explains No 3 firefighter John Ryan, who was involved with the development of the garden. “A firefighter stationed here, Paul Rock, decided that it might be nice to mark it with a garden, a garden for firefighters who have died while in service. Somewhere to be remembered. And that’s why there is an axe in the garden with Leon’s badge number inscribed on it.”

The initial plan was to create a much smaller garden, however the scale of the project quickly grew. “We didn’t think that it was going to turn into something as elaborate as this. The lads here on B watch did most of the work, though we couldn’t have done it without the other watches in the station. They helped us financially, and whenever there needed to be clear ups or skips filled or whatever, they gave us a dig out,” says John.

IN TOUCH WITH NATURE In keeping with Dublin Fire Brigade’s environmentally conscious Green Plan, biodiversity is a key theme of the garden, and nothing goes to waste – everything is reused in some form or another. A water butt collects rainwater for use in watering the flowers, there’s a herb garden for the station chef, and dead plants are used for compost. Lavender and other flowers have been planted to attract and provide a safe haven for the honey bee, none of which live in the wild any longer, a species threatened with extinction. Bird and bat boxes mounted on the end

wall above the fish pond also play their part in enticing wildlife to the garden. Sitting at the far end is a sign post which points the way to a number of stations across the city, while the garden itself is surrounded by beautiful stonework, which was completed by Glasnevin Monuments.

HELPING HANDS There’s a long list of people and organisations without whom this garden would have never come to fruition. The Dublin City Council Parks Department played their part, while the Public Lighting Department provided the imposing black, wrought iron street lamp, as well as some of the garden’s recessed lighting. No. 3’s David Timlin, formerly of the Parks Department, also provided his expertise and continued Paul Rock’s work in the garden. Wheatfield Prison was also a major contributor – their training section provided the garden benches, the wooden gate, and painted the street lamp. They also provided the stone emblem featuring DFB’s logo, which looks as if it was machined but in actuality was hand carved.

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“In the reception area there’s a wooden emblem of Dublin Fire Brigade, which was hand carved as well,” John adds. Funding for the garden was derived from a range of sources. B watch (and indeed the other watches) contributed financially throughout the process, with some wheeling and dealing (with permission) to secure as much as they could for as little outlay as possible. Tesco also contributed as part of their Community Fund – good causes are nominated from local communities, and shoppers vote with blue tokens distributed at the tills. Tokens are collected over an eight week period, with g1,000 shared proportionally between three causes according to the number of tokens on display. Established last year, it has donated more than g1.5 million to 5,000 causes, including several hundred euro to the memorial garden at No 3. “We’d also like to thank the Sports and Social Club – they were the single biggest financial contributors, while Dubco also contributed financially,” says John. “We’re all very proud of it, we put so much work into it.”

Photos: Conor Forrest/B watch No 3

MEMORIAL GARDEN

Biodiversity is a key theme of the garden, and nothing goes to waste – everything is reused in some form or another.

FIRECALL SUMMER

Volunteer hikers were in plentiful supply throughout the month. Photo: Sarah Good

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

AT THE VERY HEART OF THINGS Great food, comfortable surroundings and a relaxing atmosphere – experience it all at Dublin Citi Hotel and Trinity Bar Venue, in the heart of the city.

here’s a tangible buzz on Dame Street, no matter what time of day or night. A melting pot of languages and cultures, a cornucopia of tastes and smells, a portrait gallery of peoples gathered from the four corners of the planet. But that’s to be expected in a modern capital city. What you may not expect in such a bustling thoroughfare – located right at the core of the city’s pulsating heart – is an oasis of respite and retreat; but that’s exactly what Dublin Citi Hotel and the Trinity Bar Venue are.

UNRIVALLED In the shadow of Ireland’s former Houses of Parliament, a mere stroll from the hallowed halls of Trinity College – the alma mater of some of the nation’s luminary writers, thinkers and heads of state – and rubbing shoulders with the capital’s cultural quarter at Temple Bar, the Dublin Citi Hotel and Trinity Bar Venue make for the perfect launching ground to capture the city’s vibrant essence. As that launching ground, for those visiting the city the hotel has many endearing qualities in its favour: genuine human hospitality, quality and comfort, fine dining and entertainment, a place to call home, a venue for meetings and events, but above all it is the hotel’s prime location that simply cannot be rivalled.

Trinity Bar offers you a temptingly delicious reason to forego the crowds and ‘dine at home’. The hugely talented and creative chefs at the Trinity Bar continually strive to create a gastropubstyle menu that is both inventive and hearty, while maintaining their underlying goal of providing sumptuous flavours along with superb value for money – including our now hugely popular ‘steak on the stone’, plus craft beer specials. Dublin city will tempt you with its many delights; a veritable carnival of entertainment. But at the Citi Hotel this entertainment comes directly to you. With live music seven nights a week (and a selection of tempting craft beers), the Trinity Bar is guaranteed to be a lively and fun-fuelled setting for your city night out. For sports fans – whether you cheer

for Liverpool FC (our own personal favourites) or the Miami Dolphins – we have your favourite game covered on a host of TV screens. Along with live game viewing the Trinity Bar regularly offers its guests the opportunity to meet with true legends from all walks of sporting life, delivering game previews and reviews, question and answer sessions or the chance to just shake hands and say hello and perhaps add an autograph to your collection. Strike up a conversation with a stranger in the drinking parlours of Ireland’s literary giants, Behan, Joyce and Kavanagh, over a pint of ‘the black stuff’, and soon you’ll realise just how wise you were to choose Dublin Citi Hotel and the Trinity Bar Venue as your base camp on a voyage of discovery in Ireland’s buzzing capital.

DUBLIN DELIGHTS Despite the plethora of dining options Dublin city has at hand, the hotel’s SUMMER 14 FIRECALL

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FUNDRAISING AT NO 3

KARTING FOR CRUMLIN Last May, six firefighters set off for a 120km trip along the Grand Canal on gokarts. Conor Forrest was there at the finish line on the day to find out a little more.

rather unusual fundraising event had its finish line at the Nutgrove Shopping Centre in Rathfarnham last May – a 120km go-karting trip undertaken by six firefighters from Rathfarnham fire station. Their mission? To raise some much needed funds for the Childrens’ Medical and Research Foundation (CMRF) at Crumlin Hospital, which provides a vital service for the nation’s sick children. Taking place on Saturday May 14th last, the trip began in Shannonbridge Co Offaly and ended at Nutgrove Shopping Centre, a total of 120km along the banks of the Grand Canal. The firefighters pedalled six BERG Extra Sport BFR pedal go-karts which, while strong enough to take the weight of an adult, are really designed for kids up to the age of 14. That was the idea – big kids pedalling for sick kids. FF/P Christian Connolly was the chief organiser behind the event, and was inspired to do something for Crumlin after witnessing his six-and-a-half-yearold niece Caoimhe’s two year battle

with cancer. “She has successfully completed this part of her treatment, and will require further care from Crumlin Hospital over time,” he tells me. “Crumlin saved her life. What other fitting tribute could I do?”

PLANNING A TREK The original plan was to organise a sponsored walk, though Christian quickly realised that a walk wouldn’t raise the levels of awareness and funds he sought. With a huge personal interest in cycling, an interesting idea was born, one which he quickly took to both BERG and his brother-in-law Michael Clery, who runs JKC’s Toymasters in Nenagh. “When I suggested to them what we were thinking of doing, they both laughed!” says Christian. “We said ‘let’s come up with something barmy, something different that will gather attention, and just demonstrate that we want to raise money for a kids’ hospital. We got huge support from the fire brigade and local businesses including Nutgrove Shopping Centre and BERG – without BERG this would have been

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FUNDRAISING AT NO 3 worked behind the scenes to ensure the event was a success. “I have to give massive thanks to Donnacha Foley from BERG Ireland, my brother-inlaw Michael Clery, and Robbie Hesse, manager of Nutgrove Shopping Centre,” he states. “These are the three guys that essentially got this thing up and running...without those guys, this was a sponsored walk around Marley Park.”

Christian Connolly, Robbie Hesse, Donnacha Foley and Michael Clery

a sponsored walk, it’s as simple as that.” Prizes for sponsors were supplied by both BERG and JKCs, giving people an added incentive. The next step for Christian was one that had a few eyebrows raised. A week before the journey, he took the train down to Offaly, his bike in tow, and travelled back to Dublin along the planned route, searching for difficult or impassable sections to ensure a smoother journey on the day. “If anything, we’ve realised that it’s a beautiful part of the country that you never see,” he says. “There were some tough parts, there were some sections that were hard to do. It was a bit of craic – we were able to help each other along. It was hard, but it was helped by a fantastic, unbelievable day.”

SUCCESS In total, Christian and the team have raised almost s10,000 so far (you can still donate at cmrf.org/user/ kit), a tremendous result gratefully acknowledged by CMRF. “We’re extremely grateful to him and all the crew that joined with him. There are people like Christian who allow us to continue the great quality of care that each little child receives in Crumlin,” says Gerry Cully, CMRF Hospital Liaison Manager. “His fundraising money will be used both for equipment for the hospital and toys as well. We SUMMER 16 FIRECALL

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look at different projects in the hospital, and we look to people to support [these] particular projects. Some of them involve equipment, some of them are capital projects which are revamping wards, and the others are basic things like toys for children in the play areas – we have play areas on most of the wards, so we have to replenish the toys.” Gerry also notes that the benefits to CMRF aren’t purely monetary – there’s an element of raising awareness, and prompting more people to both donate to and fundraise for a very worthy cause. “This isn’t just Christian raising money for Crumlin Hospital and for the patients there. It’s the awareness that he brings to Crumlin – key to the huge pedal kart event. There was a massive awareness that would have followed Christian before and after, through his event. That, in its own right, also triggers people to support us in a fundraising way. And we’re only too delighted to help and support if they do that,” he explains. “We’ll be only too delighted to speak to them, we can support them with their fundraising, plan an event, buy t-shirts, posters and buckets and apply for Garda permits. There’s a whole host of things that we can support them with to generate income from their event.” Though unsurprisingly tired by the arduous trek along the Grand Canal, Christian was happy with the team’s achievement, and thanked those who

BERG’S BUY-IN

Canal photos courtesy Donnacha Foley

The team’s sturdy go-karts were provided by BERG, a Dutch company and the world’s leading manufacturer of steel frame pedal go-karts for children. Founded more than 30 years ago, operating in 65 countries across the globe, Ireland is a particularly strong market for BERG. So why get involved with such charitable endeavours? “The motto of the company is ‘Inspiring Active Play’. As children are the main customers of BERG we try every year in Ireland to get involved with a charity event that benefits kids. In previous years we had a 20 go-kart pedal from Swinford to Castlebar raising funds for Western Care in Mayo. Last year we had an event at the Ulster Grand Prix,” explains Donnacha Foley, Head of Sales for Ireland and the UK. “The first such event in 2011 was the ‘Tipp Through Tipp’ where Michael Cleary of JKC Toymaster Nenagh pedalled to all the main towns in Tipperary raising s16k for Crumlin Hospital. Michael and Christian Connolly of Rathfarnham fire station are married to two sisters. When Christian was looking to do something for Crumlin Hospital it was suggested by Michael that BERG might help. We were pleased to provide the go-karts for a sponsored pedal and some go-karts and a trampoline as prizes for a raffle for those sponsoring.”

Volunteer hikers were in plentiful supply throughout the month. Photo: Sarah Good

28/07/2016 14:41

SPORT IRELAND VS ENGLAND

INTERNATIONAL LINES A combined NIFRS/DFB team took on players from FireSport UK in Dalymount Park in June. Conor Forrest was there on the sidelines, and spoke with Ireland team manager Derek McArdle.

arlier this year, a historic amalgamated team featuring firefighters from Dublin Fire Brigade and the Northern Ireland Fire Services (NIFRS) faced off against players from FireSport UK, the fire service sports association across the Irish Sea. The brainchild of Liam Wheeler, FireSport UK secretary, he reached out to Derek McArdle, former team manager for the Irish Fire Services international team. As the Dublin footballers hadn’t played a competitive game in some time, Derek made contact with Bobby Anderson in

the Northern Ireland Fire Services to arrange a test match between the two Irish sides. “We had a meeting after that to discuss amalgamating the two teams for the game against the UK, and possibly, in the future, using the Fire Services Ireland team in some of the tournaments in Europe,” Derek explains. “The UK team was delighted when they heard that ourselves and Northern Ireland had decided to amalgamate. We’re not sure where it’s going to go, but we’re hoping that maybe we can enter some of the European competitions as a joint team.”

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SPORT IRELAND VS ENGLAND

Above: Combined Irish team. Left: Captains and officials pose before kick off. Photos: Tony Devoy

Ireland manager Derek McArdle

HITTING THE PITCH The game was held in Dalymount Park, home to Bohemian FC who have played there since 1901. Not only was it a historic occasion, with fire services both sides of the border joining forces to create one national team, but there were other historic links at play. “When I heard that north and south had decided to join together, I did a little bit of research. It turns out that, on an international level, north and south had played together from around 1883 until 1950 as the national Irish team,” Derek tells me. “Digging a little deeper, it turns out that the home games in Dublin between 1903 and 1914 were played at Dalymount Park. It was brilliant that we were able to get it – Dublin City Council now own Dalymount Park, and they were kind enough to allow us to use the pitch on that date.” The Irish team edged the first half, with some slick passing and interplay at times and, shortly before the half time whistle, Ireland got on the score sheet. When play resumed, the opposing side became more confident, and SUMMER 18 FIRECALL

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It was a fair result, I thought the teams performed really well. The spectators that I spoke to during and after the game were very impressed with the standard of play. equalised. Despite a nervy ending, the match finished 1-1, and the players readied themselves for penalties. Both goalkeepers took the chance to shine, but in the end, the Irish team triumphed. “I think the 1-1 result was fair. We had made a decision at the start of the game that if it finished a draw, it would go straight to penalties. We were lucky enough to win it on the penalty shootout,” says Derek. Although some of the Dublin footballers play within the Leinster Senior league, (several NIFRS footballers play in the Irish League), combining two sides can be challenging. “We knew it was going to be difficult, but I thought we played extremely well together as a unit. I think the UK team were quite surprised at how well we did,” he adds.

GETTING OFF THE GROUND Derek acknowledges that without a great deal of assistance, the match would have never taken place, nor would the Irish fire service soccer players be facing a much brighter future in European competition. When DCC heard about the match,

they were keen to get on board, and generously sponsored items including polo tops and footballs. The Sports and Social Club also provided assistance, looking after food and drinks on the day, and ran the presentation ceremony held at the ground’s bar following the game. The team also secured a number of external sponsors including Finance Solutions, who sponsored the team kit. “It turned out to be a really good event – there were a couple retirement dos on the night, so we didn’t get the attendance we expected, but it was extremely successful,” says Derek. “It was a fair result, I thought the teams performed really well. The spectators that I spoke to during and after the game were very impressed with the standard of play.” Nor is it the last international competitive match for the All-Ireland team – the Scottish have expressed a competitive interest, while FireSport UK is keen to host a rematch on home turf. “We’ve opened up new avenues for ourselves with regards to the team, and hopefully it will rejuvenate interest throughout Ireland,” Derek concludes.

Volunteer hikers were in plentiful supply throughout the month. Photo: Sarah Good

28/07/2016 14:45

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

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ROW in Ireland is a national mental health organisation working to promote mental health and wellbeing for all, to prevent mental ill-health for people who are “at risk” and to support people with mental health problems during their recovery.

WHAT IS RECOVERY? Recovery is the unique journey people experience in realising a satisfying and fulfilling life with challenges that can be associated with mental health difficulties. Recovery principles emphasise the importance of fostering hope, building a network of supports, social inclusion and harnessing personal strengths, whilst underlining the values of personal choice and responsibility. Recovery provides a shift in focus from mental illness to mental wellness and recognises that people can have occasional setbacks on their recovery journey. International studies have shown that the GROW model of care reduces the number and duration of hospitalisations, as well as increasing feelings of security and self-esteem and reducing anxiety. Members demonstrate improved coping skills, greater acceptance of their issues, improved medication adherence, and improved daily functioning.

GROW’S PROGRAMME OF RECOVERY Since 1969 GROW has successfully delivered a 12 Step Programme of Recovery designed for people to take back control of their lives, overcome obstacles and start living a life full of meaning, hope and optimism. It provides a peer supported programme for growth and personal development for people with a mental health issue and those people experiencing difficulty in coping with life’s challenges.

WHAT IS A GROW SUPPORT GROUP? GROW’s support groups offer the opportunity for people to share challenges and solutions for recovery in a supportive and structured way, as well as offering members a practical path out of mental and emotional issues. The recovery programme empowers all members to construct their own recovery plan and journey towards personal growth. Its principal strength is the support its members give to each other, drawing on their own successful experiences of recovery. A key aspect of membership of GROW is the development of new and meaningful friendships, development of coping strategies and interpersonal skills, and an increased sense of personal value and purpose. With over 111 community-based support groups GROW offers a free, weekly, confidential and anonymous service. Recent Irish research shows that “GROW is effective because it provides on-going community rather than temporary professional intervention.” (Watts, 2012)

OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED • Community Educational Programmes The organisation provides free Community Educational Programmes throughout the country creating awareness around mental health and educating the public in supporting their own mental health and that of their loved ones. • Workplace Programme Our Workplace Programme assists organisations in responding to and supporting persons who may be struggling with stress. The programme examines:-

•T he importance of good mental health wellbeing in the workplace. •P romotion/Prevention of work stress: reasons for stress and how this can be addressed, e.g. work stress/bullying. •P romotion of good practices within the workplace.

• Carers Programme One in four families has at least one member with a mental health issue, and very often the primary caregivers. The extent of the burden of mental health issues on family members is difficult to assess and quantify, and is consequently often ignored. However, it does have a significant impact on the family’s quality of life. Our Carers Programme supports those who are in a caring role. The programme offers practical advice on how to support the mental health of their loved one as well as their own mental health. • Young Adult Programme Our Young Adult Programme assists young adults who are currently in third level education to recognise when they are stressed and how this can affect their mental health. The programme examines the causes of stress and how it can affect their studies. It addresses the reasons for stress and how it can be managed. For further information please contact our Infoline 1890 474 474. Alternatively, you can email us on info@grow.ie or visit our website www.grow.ie

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Supporting recovery and protecting your mental health Who are GROW? GROW is a national community based organisation providing support and education around emotional and mental wellbeing. Our 12 Step Recovery Program provides effective peer support, motivation and empowerment to enable you to take action to change your circumstances. With over 120 community based support groups there is a group near you.

How do I join GROW? To join GROW you do not need any introductions or referrals. Our meetings are free, open to all, anonymous and confidential. If you require further information please contact our Info line 1890 474 474 or log onto www.grow.ie to find a support group near you.

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Heart Children Ireland is the support group for parents and families of children born with and who acquire Congenital Heart Defects. CHD is the most common of all birth defects affecting one in every one hundred children born at present. HEART CHILDREN IRELAND RECEIVES NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING. We rely on the fundraising efforts of our members, their families and friends for support and also, our wonderful corporate partners. To date, we have raised in excess of € 2.5m for the Children’s Heart Centre at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin. We support The Young Adult Congenital Unit at the Mater Hospital and also our adult group “Big Hearts”. “At Heart Children Ireland, we truly understand the ups and downs of congenital heart defects in children and adults. We are here to help from the time you find your baby has a heart defect, supporting you, your child and your family along your heart journey from childhood to adulthood”. Heart Children Ireland, The Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, D7 www.heartchildren.ie | EMAIL: heartchildren@eircom.net TEL: 1850 217017 | Registered Charity Number 10022

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07/07/2016 16:25

CFO CONFERENCE

LESSONS FROM THE FIELD The annual Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) conference was held at the Malton Hotel, Killarney last May.

erry Fire and Rescue Service played host to the 2016 Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) conference held at the Malton Hotel in Killarney on May 4th to 5th. Alongside a comprehensive indoor and outdoor exhibition, topics covered during the two-day event included decision-making by fire service incident commanders, stress management and operational discretion for fire service leaders. “We welcome several speakers of the highest calibre, both Irish and international, who bring a very rich heritage of service and leading academic views on the interesting topics we will address,” said Michael Hession, CFO, Kerry Fire and Rescue Service, speaking before the event. “A unique aspect to the conference this year will be our focus on the rich Irish heritage in fire services in the United States and further afield. We are very pleased to welcome Chiefs from the state of Massachusetts who, with their families, represent the wonderful contribution of the Irish over generations.” Among those who travelled from Massachusetts were Chief Joe Flanagan (City of Boyleston) and FF/P Jamieson C. Shea, a fourth generation KerryAmerican who began his career with the New York City Fire Department in Long Beach, now residing in the town of Sterling.

MANAGING STRESS Critical incident stress management (CISM) has become an increasingly important topic in recent years. In our last issue, we spoke with Adrian O’Grady, head of the CISM team within Dublin Fire Brigade, who described how intervention – both before and after an incident – is key, as is camaraderie within the fire service. The results of a recent study conducted by the Centre for Psychological Health at Trinity College Dublin were presented at the CFOA conference, and indicated just how important this sense of camaraderie can be – much more than expected. Commissioned by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, the report highlighted that informal support structures prove very useful in helping to deal with traumatic incidents. “What people find most helpful immediately after an event is sitting around, having a cup of tea and chatting – for the vast majority it’s their colleagues they draw on,” said Prof. Dave Hevey, one of the authors of the study, as quoted by the Irish Examiner. Few require additional support from mental health professionals, and maintaining the informal, flexible support structures is important, he told conference attendees. The conference also heard how rural fire stations should incorporate ambulances as best practice to provide cover in regions where the ambulance service is stretched.

Pat Fleming speaking at the conference. Photo David Hogan

The Malton Hotel

JAMIESON C. SHEA A fourth generation Irish-American working in the town of Sterling, Massachusetts, FF/P Jamieson Shea began his career as a firefighter with New York Fire Department in the city of Long Beach, assigned to Engine Company 41. A charter member of the International Association of Firefighters, he is the President of the Worcester County Firefighters’ Emerald Society. In 2015, he received the National Medal of Honour – Hurricane Sandy citation for his efforts in organising a hurricane relief effort in 2012, and was listed as one of the top 40 Irish Americans under the age of 40 by the Irish Echo, the largest Irish-American publication in the USA.

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NUTGROVE OPEN DAY

PARTNERS IN SERVICE

Nutgrove fire station took part in their second annual open day, not only to entertain and inform the local community, but also to show support for a deserving volunteer organisation, Blood Bikes East. Orla Connolly reports.

pril witnessed another successful event for Nutgrove fire station as their second annual open day was met with clear success. Organised by C watch firefighters Derek Riordan and Philip Evans, the open day welcomed both members of Dublin Fire Brigade and the local community, who were treated to a long, sun-filled afternoon of games, prizes and entertainment while helping to raise funds for a very worthy cause, Blood Bikes East (BBE). There was plenty on hand to keep the crowds amused, including a replica of the first ambulance used by Dublin Fire Brigade in 1898, alongside a collection of privately owned vintage fire tenders and police cars, not to mention a hand-crafted miniature fire station built from scratch by a local enthusiast. A DJ was also on hand to keep the party alive, while radio station 98FM was on the ground to give away prizes and promotions. Also present was Chief Fire Officer Pat Fleming who, on short notice, gave a speech to the welcoming crowd, for which members of the fire brigade were very grateful. “It couldn’t have went better,” says Derek. Among the local heroes (including members of An Garda Síochána and the Civil Defence), other superheroes

were found mingling with the crowd, such as Superman, Spiderman and Captain America, who spent the afternoon greeting and entertaining passing children and adults alike. “We also had not-so-superheroes in the form of the Predators, which went down a storm with the kids that they didn’t scare half to death,” Derek says with a laugh. To mark the centenary year, the organisers also compiled a souvenir programme to commemorate the 1916 Rising and the part that Dublin Fire Brigade played in the historical event, alongside the various emergency services that took part on the day. “We wanted to highlight the organisations that were there on the day, so everyone had a piece written about them, what they do, when they were established, how many members they have and then a brief little history about themselves,” Derek explains.

A WORTHY CAUSE This year’s open day was held in aid of Blood Bikes East, a vital medical courier service working between hospitals throughout the Leinster area. The BBE service, which is run entirely by volunteers operating on shifts in their spare time, offers emergency transport of blood, blood products, breast milk, patient records,

urgent medical equipment or any emergency equipment that a hospital may require from another location. The organisation recently reached the 3,000 call out mark since they were first established, though 1,000 of those calls have occurred in the first few months of 2016. The funds raised through the open day will contribute to the cost of bike maintenance, fuel and road tax – vital in keeping this valued service on the road. DFB isn’t the only organisation to assist their volunteer colleagues – DoneDeal has also demonstrated their support. “DoneDeal donated bikes to us. We do collections in shopping centres etc. to keep the bikes roadworthy, road taxed and on the road. It’s completely voluntary,” says Billy Kavanagh, a member of BBE. The open day raised an impressive h3,934 for BBE, a substantial sum and an increase from last year’s target. “It’s great to see [this support] because we have been running since 2012,” Billy adds. “We’ve been running in England since the 1960s. It’s a good turnout – we were here last year and there was a good turnout last year as well.”

BEHIND THE SCENES As with last year’s event, the open day was a success because of the assistance provided by so many individuals and organisations, including DFB, a string of local businesses and, of course, the local community. “Myself and Phil Evans would have been the organisers of the event, but C watch and all the other watches played a very big part in making this event the success that it was,” says Derek. “We also had great support from local businesses, Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, and also the four local Supervalu stores. Everybody contributed immensely.” No more so than local woman Alison Brehan who put on a great display of community spirit again this year by baking over 300 cakes, breaking her own impressive record of 200 cakes from last year. “She worked very hard making an awful lot of cakes,” Derek adds. “We raised

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NUTGROVE OPEN DAY

Saved for

LEINSTER

BLOOD BIKE FACTOIDS

HOSPITALS

5,500 CALLS ACTED ON

150,000KM

travelled

18,500

HOURS VOLUNTEERED

7,800

LITRES OF FUEL CONSUMED

Photo: C watch No 8

money on the day through teas and coffees and selling cakes. We didn’t put a price on them – we just asked people to kindly donate, which they did.” Those who were there on the day also had the one time opportunity to buy a commemorative mug, which pushed the total amount raised even higher. Even the weather was on their side, with the rain making way (briefly) for a little welcome sunshine, which undoubtedly increased the turnout on the day. “The only thing we couldn’t account for on the day was the weather but, exactly like last year, it held out and just when it was over, the heavens opened and these golf balls of hailstones came out of nowhere. It’s all about timing I suppose,” Derek says. “It was a fantastic day – it exceeded all expectations. Last year was our first year doing it and this year was even bigger and better.”

BLOOD BIKES EAST

€370,000

Blood Bikes East is a 24/7 emergency medical transport service that delivers urgent packages between hospitals in Dublin and the Greater Leinster region – anything from blood and medical products to samples for testing or transplant-related tissue. Because Blood Bikes East uses trained advanced motorcycle riders, they can provide a much more efficient service virtually unhindered by traffic. Their average callout takes 30 minutes or less. The service is provided by a number of volunteers who work for free in their spare time, saving hospitals the cost of paying for taxis or couriers to deliver vital items. According to the organisation, they have saved hospitals in Leinster an estimated €300,000 since they were formed in 2012. With no administration costs, the only spending incurred is on bikes – fuel, maintenance and road tax, with insurance provided by their partner AXA Insurance Ireland. In 2012, BBE received an incredible donation of €33,000 from DoneDeal.ie as part of its charity donations initiative and, earlier this year, Annesley Williams Skoda provided a brand-new Skoda Yeti free of charge on a long term lease for use as an emergency medical vehicle in more treacherous conditions. Interested in holding an event to help keep Blood Bikes East running? From bake sales and coffee mornings to quiz nights and a host of other wonderful ideas, BBE welcomes your support. Just let them know what you’re planning and they can provide you with promotional items or small prizes to raffle off or give away. Banners can also be arranged for larger events, and they can arrange for one or more bikes and riders to come along for major events. For more information phone 089 407 6868, email info@ bloodbikeeast.ie or visit www. bloodbikeseast.ie.

FIRECALL SUMMER

Volunteer hikers were in plentiful supply throughout the month. Photo: Sarah Good

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LORD MAYOR AWARDS

DFB RECOGNISED AT

LORD MAYOR’S AWARDS A number of individuals and organisations were honoured at the recent Lord Mayor’s Awards, including Dublin Fire Brigade.

ublin Fire Brigade was among the recipients of the annual Lord Mayor’s Awards at a reception in the Round Room at the Mansion House last May. The awards were instituted in 1989 to honour individuals and groups who have made a special contribution to Dublin and its citizens. Previous recipients include Ronnie Delaney, Maeve Binchy, Scouting Ireland, Imelda May, Marty Whelan, Brian O’Driscoll, Jimmy Magee, Jim Gavin and the Capuchin Day Centre. “One of the great things about being Lord Mayor is the opportunity it presents to confer awards on people who have made a major contribution to this country. I do this, on behalf of the people of Dublin, to say ‘thank you’ for the wonderful work that you have done,” said Lord Mayor Críona Ní Dhalaigh. “This year’s awards go to organisations who work with the marginalised and forgotten; who give a voice to the voiceless and strive for equal rights for all; who put their lives on the line each day in serving others.” Included in that final category was Dublin Fire Brigade, and the Lord Mayor explained that her choice was an easy one. “It was one of the first groups I thought of when I was elected as Lord Mayor and people started discussing with me as to who I was going to choose [as] recipients. And I thought of Dublin Fire Brigade straight away, but I just presumed they had already been awarded it. They’re 150 years operating so when I found out they weren’t, I was more than happy,” she explained. “It’s just a recognition of the fact that they dedicate their lives to ensuring that the citizens of Dublin are safe. And they’ve been doing so in a very professional manner for many years.” There to accept the award on behalf of Dublin Fire Brigade was Chief Fire Officer Pat Fleming, who was more than happy with the Lord Mayor’s selection. “I am humbled and proud to receive this award on behalf of the men and women serving today

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LORD MAYOR AWARDS

Included in that final category was Dublin Fire Brigade, and the Lord Mayor explained that her choice was an easy one.

in Dublin Fire Brigade and indeed on behalf of all their predecessors. Dublin Fire Brigade has developed from a small operation in 1862 with 24 personnel to a force of almost 1,000 (including support staff) and provides a range of services to the four Dublin local authorities with a population of over 1.25 million. The service expanded in 1898 to provide the first emergency ambulance service which further enhanced the capability of the brigade to render humanitarian aid and succour to people in their time of need,” he said. “This integrated fire-based emergency medical service system is still provided to this very day with the same staff commitment and dedication to serving the people of Dublin. The Brigade has expanded its roles over the years in order to provide services to tackle new risks and threats to the public we serve including flooding, major emergency management, call taking and dispatch of other fire services, water rescue, chemical incidents and high line rescue.” CFO Fleming also spoke about DFB’s hard work in the area of fire prevention, an important aspect of their work in Dublin City, through input in the awarding of licenses to places of public assembly, new building design, event management and active community and educational fire safety promotion. “I never miss an opportunity to ask people if they have

CFO Pat Fleming, then Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh and ACFO Dennis Keeley at the Mansion House. Photo: Colm Mahady/Fennell Photography 2016

at least one working smoke alarm in their home,” he told the gathered crowd. “I would encourage all of you to check your own smoke alarms and in addition, please check out those of your extended family and indeed vulnerable friends and neighbours. A working smoke alarm together with a fire safety plan will help to save your life and the lives of your loved ones in the event of a fire.” Other individuals and groups honoured on the night included the Ana Liffey Drug Project, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), Justice for Magdalenes Research on behalf of the Magdalene Women and Justice for the Forgotten

(established to campaign for truth and justice for the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in May 1974). “All are richly deserving of this award. I applaud all of these people for the work they do that makes such a positive different in the lives of others,” said Lord Mayor Ní Dhalaigh. “This acknowledgement by the First Citizen of Dublin in this historic year is a wonderful honour, and one that all of us in the brigade will cherish,” CFO Fleming added. “Dublin Fire Brigade will continue to develop and innovate in the delivery of services to protect and safeguard the citizens of Dublin and to make Dublin a safe place to live, work and visit.”

FIRECALL SUMMER

Volunteer hikers were in plentiful supply throughout the month. Photo: Sarah Good

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Photo: Robbie Reynolds Photography

FF/P Seán Peters, B watch Finglas, fills us in on how selfies can save lives!

n 2015, Dublin Fire Brigade was approached by an organisation called Code for Ireland (C4I). C4I had a team of developers that were willing to donate their time to develop a smartphone app with the aim of saving lives, and sought advice on how people could find and use AEDs/defibrillators. Sitting around a dinner table in one of our fire stations is one of the best ways to get an insight into how the public act in an emergency. Most times the funniest stories come out of the least serious incidents but alas, the most tragic tales accompany

the most tragic situations. In the last year I have heard firefighters discuss situations in which the public AED didn’t work or it only had one shock left. I have even walked past an AED as we responded to a cardiac arrest! Our task quickly became clear – the need to raise public awareness of the existence of these devices, and to make sure they are working. But how could we discover their location and raise awareness at the same time? Could selfies work?

BOOTS ON THE GROUND The Save a Selfie app has been

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SAVE A SELFIE designed to allow members of the public and emergency services to upload selfies with these devices or, if the user is shy, a photo will do. The user then adds a short description of the device’s location and uploads the image to our website. We then can view the GPS information embedded in the photo to find the exact location of the device. Part funded by a h5,000 donation from the Social Innovation Ireland Fund and supported by the Order of Malta Ireland, Code for Ireland, Dublin Fire Brigade, Emergency Care, and Irish Water Safety, we had our official launch in May and so far we have had some fantastic results with over 1,750 devices located. It is estimated that we have approximately 10,000 devices around Ireland, so if you have an AED in your community why not download the app and share its location? Finding these devices is one thing – making sure they’re working properly is another. It is estimated that 10 per cent of the AEDs around the country don’t work, so we are still left with the defibrillator lottery. To counter this, the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps has committed its 4,000 strong volunteer corps to go out on the streets and check the devices that we have located. Once

these devices have been checked, device information, location and contact details of the owner will also be updated to our database. At this time a ‘smart label’ will also be applied to the AED and the cabinet. The smart label has a QR code and also a built-in NFC device. NFC (Near Field Communication), which is used in bank cards for contactless payments, and allows the owners of the AED to tap their smartphone off the label every time the device has been checked – this will register on our system so we know that the device is rescue ready.

SO WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? The Save a Selfie project is in talks with Trinity College with a view to conducting research with small, low powered smart sensors to see how these devices can save lives. Within the next few years, these sensors will be commonplace and cost h1-2 each. They will have enough power to last five years and send out small bits of information on a daily basis. These devices can be retrofitted or built into all types of medical devices including AEDs, and could alert the owner when devices need to be serviced. Exciting times! For more information, visit www.saveaselfie.org.

The Save a Selfie app has been designed to allow members of the public and emergency services to upload selfies with these devices or, if the user is shy, a photo will do.

Parnell Street photos courtesy of Simon Lazewski, foto farm

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Photos: Julie McCoy

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SOCKIES 2016

Photo: Ray McMonagle

SUCCESS AT THE SOCKIES Dublin Fire Brigade were delighted to win their category at the Sockies last May! Bevin Herbert, Trevor Hunt and Ray McMonagle report.

his was the first year DFB had been nominated for the Social Media Awards, also known as the ‘Sockies’. Previous winners have included Electric Ireland, AA Roadwatch, Hairy Baby and Aer Lingus among others. The nomination was for ‘Best Use of Social Media by a Government Body’ along with the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and others, so we were in a highly competitive category.

Approximately 40 applications were made and 10 finalists were selected for the award ceremony. DFB only started utilising social media in October 2014 on Twitter (@dubfirebrigade), later adding Facebook (dubfirebrigade) in October 2015. We use social media to provide real time information on incidents across the city and county. It is also an asset to promote fire safety advice throughout the community and engage with different

services and the wider community. Some of the particularly successful fire safety advice examples came from real events. As part of the nomination process DFB was required to provide specific examples of the content across all of its social media platforms and pick three areas that it felt were worthy of consideration by the judging panel. As well as providing examples the judges were looking for web links to our Twitter and Facebook feeds for a period over six months, which involved maintaining consistency from month to month. We submitted three areas for the awards which were: the month-long fire safety campaign in October 2015, including a selection of Lego-themed messages to appeal to younger people; our live tweeting of Halloween night which received multiple plaudits, and the coverage of the 1916 commemorations. None of this could have happened without the support and contributions from all parts of DFB including the ERCC and operational staff. Nearly 200 staff participate and contribute to the social media endeavour, which is very much appreciated. Thanks also to David Fennell from Bricks. ie for the Lego campaign and to Las Fallon and Paul Hand for the 1916 campaign. The judging panel were able to provide feedback and noted that Dublin Fire Brigade were very good at replying to queries, particularly during the succession of winter storms and high profile incidents which tend to generate a great deal of publicity. Examples include Port Tunnel turnouts or the ESB transformer fire in Bluebell. For the future, DFB is continuing with social media and exploring new ways of highlighting community fire safety in a way that engages all members of the public, alongside keeping Dublin and its citizens up to date with what is happening in real time.

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RECRUIT PASSOUT

JOINING THE RANKS Forty-three new recruits have completed their training and joined their respective fire services in Dublin, Louth and Limerick. Conor Forrest was there on the day.

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total of 43 recruits successfully completed their training and participated in the recruit passing out parade held at the Dublin Fire Brigade Training Centre in Marino on April 27th last. Recruit Class 1/2016 was unique in that only 32 were from Dublin Fire Brigade – 10 recruits were trained on behalf of Limerick Fire and Emergency Services, while one recruit was from Louth County Council Fire and Rescue. Following musical renditions from the DFB Pipe Band, the recruit class was inspected by CFO Pat Fleming and former Lord Mayor Críona Ni Dhalaigh, and performed a flawless, intricate foot drill before dispersing to change for the practical demonstrations. The recruits demonstrated some of the skills they have developed over the course of their training, including exercises in hot fire training, ladders, dealing with hazardous materials and road traffic collisions. The recruits were then awarded their scrolls by CFO Fleming and the Lord Mayor. Emma Wilson from Skerries was awarded the Silver Axe award for the most outstanding recruit. “We are proud to have trained recruits from Dublin, Limerick and Louth in one recruit class over the past 14 weeks. The calibre of the recruits passing out is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the instructors and of the recruits themselves,” said Lord Mayor Ni Dhalaigh. “Dublin Fire Brigade provides a vital service for the city and county of Dublin and I have no doubt that all new firefighters joining the ranks of Dublin, Limerick and Louth Fire Services will continue to uphold that proud service.” The average age of the recruit class was 31.9 years. Twenty-two of the recruits were redeployed staff from the four Dublin local

Photo: Conor Forrest

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emma wilson from skerries was awarded the silver axe award for the most outstanding recruit.

authorities, with 10 joining the training class from the East Regional Communications Centre. Two recruits were redeployed from South Dublin County Council, with one joining from Fingal County Council. Each recruit went through a rigorous selection process as part of their application, including an aptitude test, interview and a medical and candidate physical ability test (CPAT). The recruits underwent a rigorous 14-week training programme, graduating with the knowledge and practical skills they’ll require to work alongside their colleagues in their respective fire services. In addition to their basic training, the recruits received specialist instruction in BA/compartment fires, swift water rescue and flood awareness, pump operation, road traffic collisions and dealing with hazardous materials. In total, 20,120 work hours were completed by the recruit class, which was assisted by 50 DFB specialist instructors over the course of their six month training, alongside 11 Limerick Fire Service instructors. External instructors from An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, Coast Guard, Dublin Bus (Harristown Bus Garage), Renault trucks (Long Mile Road), Luas, Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Airport Fire Service assisted throughout the rigorous training programme. Speaking to 98FM, firefighter Amanda Delmer, who once worked in DFB’s administration, said that the training process was tough, but was worth it in the end. “You do come home on days and you feel horrible, you’re knackered, you’re exhausted and your muscles are killing you from the rolling hose and pulling up ladders, but the want to get out and make a difference pulls you through,” she explained.

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in total, 20,120 work hours were completed by the recruit class, which was assisted by 50 DFB specialist instructors.

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RETIRED MEMBERS

RETIRED MEMBER PROFILE Harry O’Keeffe

Conor Forrest recently met Harry O’Keeffe, a former firefighter who celebrated his 100th birthday in May. Harry spoke about his career with Dublin Fire Brigade, his role as a special service man, as well as his efforts to improve the workplace for his fellow firefighters.

ne hundred years ago, a small group of men and women marched out on the streets of Dublin, Enniscorthy and Meath to proclaim an independent Irish Republic. It was an event that would change the course of Irish history, though perhaps not exactly how Padraig Pearse

and his comrades in arms would have imagined. It was also the year in which Dublin Fire Brigade’s oldest firefighter was born, three days after rebel leader James Connolly was executed in Kilmainham – one Harry O’Keeffe. To say Harry has led an interesting life would be something of an understatement. Born in 22 Holles

Street in May 1916, he grew up alongside the new State that had its origins among the ruins of Dublin that year. His childhood was a happy one, with a loving family, and among his earliest memories is attending the State funeral of Michael Collins, perched on his father’s shoulders at the age of six. In those days, jobs were scarce, but he managed to find employment in his early teens, first with Cantwell and Corcoran, which produced soft drinks, where he was interviewed by union leader Jim Larkin about the company’s employment policies. That was followed by a stint with the Grand Canal Company, and then the Calendars Overhead Cable Company – Harry cycled every day from Boyne Street to work in Drogheda, beginning at 4am and camping out during the week as the work moved further from home. Wicklow became a fond destination during his teenage years, particularly Kilmacanogue, and he often cycled there on his own or with friends to a cottage they had rented on the side of the Sugarloaf. Among the first group of girls invited to the cottage was one Teresa Maxwell, his future wife.

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS Having trained as an electrical and mechanical engineer in his youth, this stood to Harry when an opportunity to join Dublin Fire Brigade arose, halting plans to

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HE BEGAN HIS NEW CAREER IN 1938, UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAJOR COMERFORD, AN EX-IRISH SOLDIER, and later under captain diskin.

move to Canada with Calendars. From many hundreds of applicants, only six were ultimately successful – including Harry. The manner in which he secured his job was perhaps an indication of the impact he was to have on DFB. “I was up in Castle Street, I went in before a few men, one of them was the young chief, Comerford. He was doing most of the speaking and he was summing me up,” Harry tells me. “When he was finished, I said

‘do I get the job?’ ‘Do you get the job? We’ll let you know in due time’.” This, however, was an unacceptable response in Harry’s mind. “Says I, ‘I’ve waited a long time to get this far, and I’d like to know where I stand.’ So he talked to the other men and said ‘Well O’Keeffe, you can take it you’ve got the job,” Harry recalls with a smile. He began his new career in 1938, under the command of Major Comerford, an ex-Irish soldier, and later under Captain Diskin following the untimely death of the former. “Him and I got on pretty well together,” Harry says of Major Comerford. Harry spent the majority of his DFB career in Tara Street as he was what was then known as a ‘special service man’ – because of his electrical knowledge, he was tasked with maintaining and servicing the old fire alarms on the street, which operated before the introduction of telephones. It was this role that prevented him from travelling to Belfast during the Blitz in 1941 – despite volunteering to travel – as he would have been difficult to replace should the worst happen. Among the many stories from Harry’s career with DFB, that of his role in the bombs that dropped on Dublin during World War II stands out, particularly those that fell on the Terenure area in South Dublin early in the morning of January 2nd 1941. That story was captured in The Bombing of Dublin’s North Strand: The Untold Story by Kevin C. Kearns, as explained by a colleague of Harry’s who joined DFB at the same time, Paddy Walsh. “This bomb hit the end of a terrace of houses, at the back garden. Made

a crater in the garden and the house fell in, but not much fire. They were up-market houses, a place where there was a Jewish settlement. A woman was trapped there, in her bed. The roof had collapsed down and the joists were all criss-crossing on the bed,” Walsh recalled. “Now I was just five foot nine but another lad with me was a hardy fella, Harry O’Keeffe. So we got in and everything was in a heap, the front of the house was still intact, but the whole back was down. There was one joist holding most of the roof still on. So he got down on his hunker, if you like, and held it. Then he says to me, “I’ll hold that and give you time to get in.”

CHANGING TIMES Workers’ rights were extremely important to Harry, and he expended great effort in agitating to improve the position of firefighters in Dublin, quickly developing a reputation as a force for change. When he first joined the fire brigade, firefighters brought food with them to work. However, noting that their counterparts in the UK and Northern Ireland had modern catering facilities where Dublin did not, Harry took the cause to City Hall, fighting long and hard for a mess to be provided for the stations. “It was disgraceful the way the Dublin Corporation treated the working men that had to be fed. There’s not a place in the world that has their staff in but they make some provisions to feed them. I took it up to City Hall and I had a row with one of the officials there,” he explains. That particular official had the temerity to enquire as to whether the firefighters

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RETIRED MEMBERS Opening image: Harry (bottom row, far left) and his colleagues in DFB. Left: Harry and his son Brendan (far right), along with some of his grandchildren. Below: Retired D/O Michael Dineen (behind Harry) and ACFO Denis Keeley (right) were among those who turned out for a recent presentation to Harry in Raheny

would like their daily dinner at the Gresham Hotel. Harry struck the table and said he would get the men to fill their larders with tinned food because it would be a long strike. Eventually, the Corporation caved. Once they got the mess, however, it still wasn’t quite plain sailing. “We had a woman who used to look after the mess. She had a fancy for George O’Dowd,” says Harry. “George fell in love with a retired schoolteacher. And when she heard that, there was skin and hair flying!”

A LIFE WELL LIVED Harry’s tireless efforts on behalf of his colleagues and peers – which included reducing the retirement age for the city’s firefighters – didn’t cease when he left DFB in 1963 to join the Corporation Rents department, a job which provided a more stable life for Harry and his young family, along with an improved salary. His son Brendan recalls a story of Harry standing before a judge in the case of a tenant in arrears. Despite Harry working for the Corporation, he was pleading on behalf of the tenant, which perplexed the judge. Looking back, it’s clear that Harry’s life was one of dedication – to his

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A MAN AHEAD OF HIS TIME

family, his colleagues in Dublin Fire Brigade, and to his lifelong principles. “I believed in the worker getting his right to speak, to criticise whatever was chosen for him. I didn’t believe in a man being too quiet, and not allowed to speak his mind. So I spoke up,” he tells me, his voice suddenly strong. “I stood up on a few occasions and I spoke to the whole lot of them [his colleagues]. I would have a go at them – ‘we can’t be falling out with ourselves, it is important that we unite. Unity is strength, we must stand together’.” As with all of his tales of his fascinating experiences, Harry sums it up best himself. “It was quite a chequered life,” he says with a characteristic smile.

Harry was an avid reader, a trait sparked in early life, and he would regale his children with stories of exploration and adventure around the fire (his sons Brian and Brendan, son-inlaw George and grandson Ciarán would follow him into the brigade). His other passion was singing, and he was known for his rendition of Night Time in Nevada. He was also fascinated by space. In those days, meat would arrive wrapped in butcher’s paper, and Harry sketched out details of how a moon landing might happen. In July 1969, his visions were vindicated as Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. Nobody knows if this drawing still exists, but included on the sheet was a list of DFB colleagues who had signed up for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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STATION PROFILE

STATION PROFILE SKERRIES & BALBRIGGAN

A CONOR FORREST TRAVELLED TO SKERRIES AND BALBRIGGAN RETAINED FIRE STATIONS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHALLENGES THEY FACE IN NORTH COUNTY DUBLIN.

pproximately two-thirds of firefighters in Ireland work as part of a retained fire service. There’s no doubt that it’s a challenging role – retained firefighters are on call 24/7, which can lead to an irregular life. I recently had the opportunity to pay a visit to Skerries and Balbriggan retained fire stations, the latter during their training hours, which take place between 7-10 pm every Tuesday evening. Located on the edge of their respective towns, Balbriggan is home to 15 firefighters in total, headed by Station Officer Dermot Murray; in Skerries, Acting Station Officer Joe Scully is at the helm of a 13-strong team until S/O Damien Dorey returns from a leave of absence. “Probably the biggest challenge to people in the retained service is the work-life balance, the fact that we’re on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Christmas Day, when everyone else expects to be sitting down at their Christmas dinner, we can be out at a fire,” explains Acting S/O Joe Scully. “We always have to turn out, no matter what. We work 24/7 and that takes a

lot of commitment. It takes a lot of working together as a group to ensure that we have a crew here at all times. I ensure that the crew make their availability known to me at all times, to ensure that I can maintain operational readiness, because the community expects it. We’re here to protect the community and that’s my main focus. I’m also here to keep the crew safe, which is a priority for me.” Acting S/O Scully has seen and done it all – alongside his many years with Skerries fire station, he joined the Airport Fire Service in 1977, serving there until 2010. His passion for the fire service is clear, as evidenced by his willingness to continue serving the local community. That passion is reflected in his management style, which comes in the form of an open book policy with the crew at Skerries. He also places a continued emphasis on excellent service to the community and maintaining high standards of training and knowledge – the variety of incidents to which the crew can be called (alongside the rigorous standards put in place by Dublin Fire

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STATION PROFILE

THEIR ROLE AS AN IMPORTANT LINK IN THE CHAIN OF SURVIVAL IS BOOSTED BY WHAT ACTING S/O SCULLY DESCRIBES AS A VERY EXTENSIVE OPERATION FROM DUBLIN.

Far left: the crew at Balbriggan Fire Sation. Above left: Balbriggan S/O Dermot Murrary and A/D/O John McNally. Above right: Retained firefighters demonstrated skills learned at their recent passout in the OBI.

Brigade) call for continued training and professional development. “As I go about my daily job of running Skerries fire station, I know at the end of the day I need to keep the crew’s cutting edge so we can remain proactive to the changes occuring within the fire brigade. I have a commitment here to provide excellence – my goal is to develop the service as best I can, including ensuring, maintaining and developing the competency of our crew. And that is made much easier by colleagues who are supportive and helpful,” he tells me. “I like people to come to work here happy, and I am happy leaving here when I know they are going home content. I also place a big emphasis on teamwork, I like people to be part of the group. There’s

good camaraderie among the crew here, and morale is extremely high.”

FRESH BLOOD The area covered by Skerries overlaps with Balbriggan, down along the M1 as far as Swords and all the way out through the North County. The Airport, Port Tunnel and the M1 all pose a significant risk, as do the large number of nursing homes and hotels in the region, while new challenges such as underground car parks and higher buildings have necessitated specialised training. The understandably busy crew at Skerries has been augmented in recent months by the addition of several new recruits, most of whom were completing a BA training

course at the OBI when I arrived. “A lot of the crew have been here for 30 years or more, they provide reliability and a lot of experience. When you complement them with the new recruits, we have a win-win situation,” says Acting S/O Scully. New recruits have also been recently deployed to nearby Balbriggan, where the volume of calls is steadily increasing. “The number of calls we’re responding to now every month is close on 50. It’s getting too busy for a retained station, it’s a big commitment,” explains Balbriggan S/O Dermot Murray. “But I’m delighted with the 50 per cent increase in the manning levels; it will take a lot of pressure off the crew here. We were operating with 10 people, we now have 15. It does take a lot

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of pressure off us and gives us a lot more leverage. I am grateful to senior management who have recruited those five additional personnel.” One of those new recruits is Elaine Lawless, who became interested in the job through her husband, who works as a full time firefighter with DFB. “I’ve always had an interest in it, but the timing was never right until now, and the opportunity presented itself,” she says. “The training was tough, but challenging, and completely different to anything I’ve ever done.” Having gone operational on May 3rd, Elaine told me she had already experienced a wide range of incidents in only her first few weeks on the job. “We’ve been at a good few [incidents], a lot of medical cases, a few RTCs, a hay barn fire, a derelict house. It’s been varied enough,” she explains.

CHANGES AND CHALLENGES Having joined Balbriggan fire station over 30 years ago – promoted to station officer in 1994 – S/O Murray has seen many changes in the job, both in terms of the people he has served with and how their varied strengths complement the team, as well as the changing challenges in the region. “Each and every individual, as I have noticed over the years, has different skills and shines at different aspects of the job – some are very good at RTC work, others are good in a BA or medical situation. We all have our areas in which we specialise,” he tells me. “In general, the crew here is very experienced in RTC work, because we get a lot of incidents. When I came into the job, every weekend I would be at a fatal RTC. Thankfully now with drink driving laws changed and enforced, we have seen a drastic reduction in the number of fatalities. I’m delighted that we don’t see the carnage on the roads that I saw when I first came into the job.” As seen in other areas of Dublin, the number of fire calls in Balbriggan has reduced over the years and S/O Murray notes that while they do still get called

to domestic fires, those incidents are nothing on the scale that would have been seen 10 or 15 years ago. “Somehow we’ve managed through fire prevention and safety to reduce those incidents,” he adds. He does mention, however, the trend towards high intensification and density of buildings in the region as cause for concern, as well as a number of high rise developments. “In time, management will have to consider putting specialised appliances out here, such as a ladder and an ET to service the motorway,” he says. S/O Murray also notes the station’s positive relationship with the local community – perhaps strengthened by the fact that each of the firefighters lives in Balbriggan. “We have a great relationship with the local community, it’s the same in all of the stations,” he states. “The fire service is one of the public service networks that would be very highly regarded, and people have a lot of respect for you, the job you do and the service you give. We would have very close ties with the community. We’re all from the local area here, so we would be well known to the people of the town.”

One of these well known firefighters is Stephen Fowley, a 26-year veteran who first worked at the now defunct retained station in Malahide before getting married and moving to Balbriggan in 1998. A recurring theme of my visits to Skerries and Balbriggan is how busy each station can be, and Stephen also highlights their hectic station life. “Since I moved out here it has just exploded, we have a massive amount of calls – the place is so built up, there are so many people living here. Every year it’s getting busier and busier,” he says. “We’re averaging 50 calls per month, 600 calls per year, which is huge for a retained station. Most retained stations around the country are probably doing between 100 and 250. A lot of it has changed to medical calls. It’s a huge area, that’s probably why we are so busy. But I love it, I still get up and jump out of bed, the same as the first day I started.” Those are sentiments readily echoed by Acting S/O Joe Scully in Skerries. “We’re busy retained stations, 40 or 50 calls per month would be nothing for ourselves,” he says. “I would say

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STATION PROFILE

that around 50 per cent of our calls are medical. All of the crew are responders and are trained in advanced CFR, while we also have two EMTs. We carry defibrillators and a fairly extensive medical kit for basic life support. We are a big link in the chain of survival, because we’re here and we’re always ready to go.” Their role in the chain of survival is boosted by what Acting S/O Scully describes as a very extensive operation from Dublin, particularly their full time colleagues from Swords and Finglas,

alongside the command structure available to the retained stations when required. “The resources that are available to us as a backup here are extensive, more so than many of the other country stations,” he says. “We can have a turntable ladder, advanced paramedics – you name it, if we make a request they are available to us. It makes the job easier for us, it’s reassuring to know that, when turning out to a serious incident, help is always on the way.”

FEET FIRST

Left and below: Skerries Acting S/O Joe Scully, Mick Woods and Willie Boylan were on duty at the station when I arrived. Bottom left: Acting S/O Scully completes the daily paperwork in his office. Bottom right: Training is an important part of daily life at Skerries fire station, as Acting S/O Scully demonstrates the correct use of a thermal imaging device on the fire ground

One of the new recruits at Skerries fire station is firefighter Mick Woods, who applied to join following positive impressions of the professionalism of several friends already in service. “The crew have been great, very supportive. As much as you learn in the OBI, on the job is really where you get experience of everything, and the lads are very supportive. They encourage you to get involved, they don’t push you away, they get you hands-on straight away,” he says.

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ADVANCED PARAMEDICS

TRAINING The latest cohort of Dublin Fire Brigade advanced paramedic students recently completed a day of training exercises in the OBI, alongside colleagues from the National Ambulance Service and the Defence Forces.

he OBI is usually a hive of activity, at least in recent weeks and months. Earlier in May there was a more noticeable buzz around the centre, as trainee advanced paramedics from Dublin Fire Brigade, the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and the Defence Forces descended on Marino for a day of training as part of the two year advanced paramedic (AP) course run jointly by the NAS and the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science. “Within this cohort there are 24, and it comprises Defence Forces personnel, DFB personnel and HSE personnel,” explains Desmond Wade, Education and Competency Assurance Officer at the National Ambulance Service College in Tallaght. “Prior to this they have all trained as paramedics and consolidated that learning and practice. This is basically the halfway point of the programme.” These training events are a great way to meet personnel from other emergency services and learn different ways of working, and also to experience working at an incident with other organisations. “This group is a good mix, it’s always good to have individuals from different services, seeing how they intertwine, how they interact,” says Wade. “They’re all coming from different perspectives, particularly for the HSE guys and the Defence Forces.” DFB incidents tend to have a larger response – one or more tenders and several firefighters, an

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ADVANCED PARAMEDICS ambulance, an officer or even a D/O and incident command for larger events. “They’re not used to having so many practitioners in one place – they’re more used to a crew of two with a back up crew of another two, and maybe a response vehicle. Having this interaction and inter-professional relationship is always a positive,” Wade adds.

OUT ON THE ROAD The AP students are currently making their way through Block 3, after which they will spend a year as postgraduate intern advanced paramedics. It’s an intensive process – Block 1 involves distance learning, followed by exams, while Block 2 is a 13-week series of classroom academics and clinical placements across the full breadth of medicine in a range of settings. Two of the AP students there on the day were DFB’s Linda Scully, and John Garvey from the NAS, both of whom were enjoying the experience of

working with other emergency services. “Today was to give us a chance to look at working with other crews, so they gave us real life scenarios as advanced paramedics, assessing the patients and working with other crews and other EMTs – how to work with them as well as look after the patient,” says Linda, who’s been with DFB for the past nine years. “It’s a fantastic training facility, you’re down and dirty, it’s very realistic...when we came in this morning there were little idiosyncrasies between [DFB] equipment and our equipment,” John adds. “It’s being able to go to a scene and to adapt very quickly and to use what’s there – there are small differences but you still need to be able to adapt quite quickly.” Both were also somewhat nervous about moving on to the next stage of their course the following week, which involves treating cases out in the real world. It’s an understandable feeling – in many cases they could have a patient’s life in their hands. “We’ve done a lot

of training, we’ve gone through a lot of work, but [there’s] still a little bit of apprehension because you know that you’re dealing with real people and real situations where, potentially, you can do some damage,” says John. “Every step we take, I’ll refer to Linda – ‘Linda, this is what I’m thinking, what do you think?’ And she will say yes or no, there’s no... heading off on your own. It’s very much working together because there’s the potential to do harm.” “I realise that the drugs that we have now, we can actually hurt people with them, so it’s just making sure that we’re double checking with our colleagues and we’re not working on our own, [remembering] to keep our heads about us,” Linda adds. “I think we’re probably going to overthink everything, we’re going to be looking for all of the big stuff when it might not be [there]. So it’s just getting into a rhythm for the first couple of weeks, it’s like going back to work, we just have a bit more to do.”

The AP students are currently making their way through Block 3, after which they will spend a year as postgraduate intern advanced paramedics. FIRECALL SUMMER

Volunteer hikers were in plentiful supply throughout the month. Photo: Sarah Good

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FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS

REMEMBERING

the fallen

Recent football and GAA matches against firefighters from New York were held in honour of fallen firefighters, writes retired Station Officer Tadhg Fallon.

n October 2015 Firefighter/ Paramedic Ian ‘Frodo’ McCormack fulfilled a lifetime ambition by travelling to New York with his wife Gemma. What he wasn’t expecting was to be met by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). The department pulled out all the stops for Ian and made his trip one that would never be forgotten; he was made a honorary member of the department while in New York. Sadly, Ian lost his battle with cancer in February 2016.

I was contacted by S/O Derek Cheevers last summer, to see if I could use some of my contacts in New York to help with Ian and his wife Gemma on a bucket list trip of the city. They had already raised some money through a fundraising cycle event and a golf outing. I contacted my cousin Eddie Boles, a Captain in FDNY, and Billy Nolan, President of the Emerald Society, to see if they could entertain the couple in some way while they were in the city. I also contacted Maureen Delmar of DelmarTravel to see if she

could arrange a suite in Fitzpatrick’s Hotel in Manhattan and VIP treatment at Dublin Airport, which was done without a problem. We were all concerned about his health and if he would manage the ordeal of travelling, as at this stage he had paralysis on one side of his body and had difficulty walking. The FDNY guys organised a van with a ramp and we hired a wheelchair to make their visit easier for them in NYC. FDNY organised all of Ian’s travel arrangements in NYC. He was collected

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As our way of saying thank you to FDNY and to remember both Ian and Sub/Officer Robbie Kane, who passed away last June, we hosted a GAA football game (for Robbie) and a soccer game (for Ian), held at the Iveagh Grounds in Crumlin. at the airport and a piper greeted them at the hotel, which was quite special as onlookers though there was a real VIP arriving â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and there was. While he was in NYC, Ian was made an honourary member of FDNY, something special as there are only a few who are granted that honour, and they held a ceremony for the special occasion. They were brought to a New York Giants game, with VIP seats and a signed team t-shirt. Ian met with the Irish consulate in NYC, took a boat trip around Manhattan and was shown all of the sights. The couple were entertained every night in some of the best restaurants in the city, and FDNY had a driver and minibus at his disposal every day. Whatever he and Gemma wanted and were able to get done (and, although he was tired, he managed to see and do everything he had wanted to do), I have to say, that was only for the FDNY guys.

WELCOME BACK

Enjoying the view from Hill 16

We have had a very strong relationship with FDNY since 9/11. Our GAA team, which Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still involved with, went to NYC in 2002 to play a game in memory of 9/11, which was the start of many years of journeys to and from New York and Dublin on alternate years. It is because of this relationship that the above happened. There is a strong bond between DFB and FDNY, and some of our firefighters holiday with some of the FDNY firefighters outside of our football visits. I was asked by FDNY to see if I could arrange a soccer game with DFB in Dublin. That was the original plan, but a few days later I received a call to see if we could entertain the GAA team as well. It meant around 55 FDNY members coming to Ireland to celebrate our centenary, and FDNY celebrating their 150th. They were planning to visit Northern Ireland first and then finish their historic trip in Dublin. With the full support of our club, including

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FDNY and DFB personnel took part in the GAA’s Laochra, a spectacular event that too place as part of the sporting organisation’s 1916 commemorations

Top: Displaying the Ian McCormack Memorial Trophy. Above: FDNY made a presentation to Ian’s wife, Gemma

Dan Fynes, Ray Murray and Simon Finglas, on Sunday April 24th, as our way of saying thank you to FDNY and to remember both Ian and Sub/Officer Robbie Kane, who passed away last June, we hosted a GAA football game (for Robbie) and a soccer game (for Ian), held at the Iveagh Grounds in Crumlin. FDNY brought with them two fire helmets in memory of the two lads, and they were presented to their family members after the games. There was a large attendance on the Sunday, and both games were contested in fine spirit and contested well. In the crowd was Robbie’s father Thomas Kane. “The New York crowd have blended in terrific here this morning along with the Dublin crowd and it’s been a great privilege for my family to be here,” he said. From the kick-off, DFB’s GAA players, captained by Conor Keegan, quickly settled into a smooth passing routine. Dominant in the air and going into challenges, by half time Dublin was well in front. The visitors gained a foothold in the game in the second half, and two goals, including one from the spot, left them in a fighting position. Their counterparts from Dublin ultimately proved too strong, and the Dublin team were presented with the inaugural Robert Kane Memorial Trophy. Shortly after, Dublin and New York’s soccer match kicked off. This time it was the men from the Big Apple who took the initiative early on. DFB came back as the match progressed, however, and a second half goal from DFB saw the game end at 3-3. The inaugural Ian McCormack Memorial trophy was presented to FDNY captain Jason Hickey, with the promise of a rematch. After the games we received a Garda escort to Croke Park to see the Division 1

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League Final between Dublin and Kerry. FDNY and DFB personnel also took part in the GAA’s Laochra, a spectacular event that took place as part of the sporting organisation’s 1916 commemorations. They were thrilled to be part of that occasion in Croke Park and are still talking to me about it. The evening finished in The River Bar, with presentations and gifts exchanged, and a few speeches before a sing-song into the small hours.

ORGANISATION I need to mention a few people without whom this day would never have taken place. I thank the Sports and Social Club for all of their support and for sponsoring the trophies (made by Marshall Sports Awards in Finglas) and all of the refreshments on the day, and Guinness – who still own the Iveagh Grounds – for offering us the use of the grounds for free. Thanks to Eddie Boles (FDNY), Billy Nolan (FDNY and President of the Emerald Society, NYC), Maureen Delmar, John Fitzpatrick and all of the people who supported the fundraising in getting Ian and Gemma to New York. Thanks also to the referees, linesmen and supporters that attended on the day, to Bevin Herbert for allocating tickets for the Laochra event in Croke Park, and piper Mark Toner for getting out of bed at 4am to greet the FDNY teams at their arrival in Dublin Airport and for piping them onto the playing fields, Gary Corrigan for helping me last minute with a Garda escort to Croke Park, and Aidan Magennis, retired NIRFS, for driving the bus safely for several days. If I’ve missed somebody, I can only apologise – this wouldn’t have happened without you.

Above and top: The DFB and FDNY GAA teams. Below left: Presentations and refreshments took place in The River Bar after events in Croke Park. Below Right: Conor Keegan (holding the Robert Kane Memorial Trophy) with Robbie’s parents.

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1916 BOOK LAUNCH

Dublin

IN 1916

Dublin City Council has launched an essay collection examining its role in the 1916 Rising, including a chapter by DFB’s own Las Fallon.

s part of Dublin City Council’s commemorative events for the 1916 Rising (as a number of Dublin Corporation employees were involved in the Easter Rising in some form or another), a collection of essays edited by John Gibney was recently launched in City Hall by the then Lord Mayor, Críona Ní Dhálaigh. Dublin City Council and the 1916 Rising examines the impact of Dublin City Council on the 1916 Rising, analysing the political background of the elected council, which included members of Sinn Féin, Labour, the Irish Parliamentary Party and unionists. One of the seven signatories to the Proclamation, Eamonn Ceannt was also known as Edmund T. Kent, a valued employee in the city’s Rates Department. He was only one of 124 employees of the then Dublin Corporation who either fought in 1916, or supported the Rising behind the scenes – Irish Citizen Army member Séan Connolly, who worked in the Motor Registration Department and was garrisoned on Easter Monday in City Hall, was the first rebel casualty when he was killed by a British sniper. His brother Joseph, a member of Dublin Fire Brigade, fought with Michael Mallon and Countess Markiewicz at the College of Surgeons, and staff of Dublin

Public Libraries had an active role in communications during the Rising. Alongside Corporation employees, a number of elected members also played a role in the insurrection – Cllr Richard O’Carroll fought with the Irish Volunteers at Jacob’s Factory, was shot by Captain J.C. Bowen-Colthurst on April 26th, and died in Portobello Hospital several days later. Cllr William Partridge, and Aldermen Sean T. O’Kelly and William T. Cosgrave also took part. In addition to his son Donal, who contributed a chapter on Major John McBride, Dublin Fire Brigade historian Las Fallon was asked to lend his expertise to the publication, penning a section on DFB’s role during the Rising. “I was delighted and honoured to be asked by Dublin City Archivist, Dr Mary Clarke, to contribute a piece on the story of Dublin Fire Brigade in the Rising to this book. As someone who has worked in this area for some time and has published some material on it, it was a great compliment to be asked to take part in such a prestigious project, all the more so when I discovered that my son Donal was also to be a contributor. Donal’s recent biography of Major John McBride was the basis for his chapter on that great and overlooked revolutionary. Other friends contributed too, including Padraig Yeates, an historian for whose

work I have great respect, Dr Conor McNamara and David Flood,” says Las. “The book launch in City Hall by Ard Mheara Críona Ní Dhálaigh was a great event to be part of. In a year of so many treasured memories, this will be one that stands out for me. To stand as a published author in the company of historians whose work I admire and to share that moment with my eldest son and my family was something very special for me. My sincere thanks to Dr Mary Clarke and all involved.”

REBELS AND HEROES Las also has a chapter in a very interesting new book on Dublin’s North Inner City – Rebels and Heroes: Hidden Stories from Dublin’s Northside – which tells the story, through family memories, photos, fact and verse, of the role played in the insurrection by those from the North Inner City. Alongside chapters from Hugo McGuinness (The Battle of Annesley Bridge), Derek Jones (Thomas Smart, Irish Volunteer and future firefighter) and Donal Fallon (Séan Connolly), permission was given by broadcaster Joe Duffy to reprint the story of Christina Caffrey from his book, Children of the Rising. Las has contributed an account of the role played by firefighters Patrick Barry and Joe Connolly during the Easter Rising. Connolly fought with the Irish

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1916 BOOK LAUNCH

Las Fallon, Viv O’Hanlon, Ray Hurley and Tom Geraghty

Citizen Army at the Royal College of Surgeons, and spent time in Frongoch internment camp in Wales, returning to his job in Dublin Fire Brigade when he was released (alongside securing back pay for his time in Frongoch). Connolly went on to fight in the War of Independence and the Civil War, and was involved in the burning of the Custom House in 1921. Patrick Barry, meanwhile, was a Station Officer in

Buckingham Street. He and his crew battled the flames in the O’Connell Street area, with Barry rescuing two children from the roof of Lawrence’s toy shop, and was later awarded a chevron by Dublin Corporation for his bravery. Published by the North Inner City 1916 Commemorations Committee, the book is well worth a read for anyone interested in Irish history, and is available to buy from local bookshops.

Alongside his son Donal, who contributed a chapter on Major John McBride, Dublin Fire Brigade historian Las Fallon was also asked to lend his expertise to the publication.

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1916 CAPTAIN CONNOLLY

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CAPTAIN CONNOLLY Dr Tracey Connolly recalls her grandfather, DFB Chief Officer Joe Connolly, and the enduring legacy of the early twentieth century Dublin Fire Brigade. ADDRESS TO CAPTAIN JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY: We, the Officers and men of the Dublin Fire Brigade, present you with this small token on your retirement from the service, in appreciation of your sterling qualities. Apart from maintaining the Fire Brigade at the highest pitch of efficiency, you have always given sympathetic consideration and support to the advancement and welfare of the members of the Brigade. Every officer and man in the Fire Brigade will feel this separation, due to your decision to retire. While expressing sincere regret at your departure from the command of the Brigade, we fervently hope that yourself and Mrs Connolly will spend many golden years of happiness in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. These words and sentiments written about my grandfather Captain Joe Connolly, Chief Officer of Dublin Fire Brigade, were most difficult for me to comprehend as a child. Yet, as I gazed at the beautiful plaque on which these words were written, I knew that this plaque, which has hung proudly in the Connolly household for decades, bore great significance. I am the youngest of Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandchildren and his only grandchild living in Ireland. Along SUMMER 52 FIRECALL

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1916 CAPTAIN CONNOLLY with my sister Isobel and my late brother Kieron, we were privileged to be raised by our late parents Joe and Ann, who loved nothing better than to talk about family history around the kitchen table. Thick description was always a key feature, to the extent that I often imagined myself in the scene of whatever family history was being recounted. With my parents’ great love of analysing evidence from the past, perhaps it is little wonder that I went on to study history to PhD level. As I moved on from childhood, I found myself starting to unravel the significance of the sentiments expressed in this plaque within the context of my grandfather’s decision to retire in 1938. Although he was subsequently offered a post in Cork and a post in Belfast, he declined both and instead dedicated the rest of his life to his wife Ellen and raising their four children Monica, Vera, Joe and Mary. The plaque gives an insight into how well Joe was regarded by the brigade and I believe that from these sentiments, he was anything but driven by his own ambitions. This year’s 1916 commemorations have enabled me to rekindle what otherwise would have been lost family connections, and to join further dots, albeit a hundred years later and another generation or more on.

CORE CONVICTIONS From what I have learnt about Joe from those who knew him well, social justice was his core belief. Fuelled by this belief, he left his post as firefighter at Central Fire Station, Tara Street to join his Irish Citizen Army comrades on Easter Monday 1916. There were six Connolly siblings involved in the Rising; Séan (who was the first rebel to be killed in the Rising), my grandfather Joe, Eddie, George (who later served as a firefighter with Dublin Fire Brigade), Katie and Mattie (who was merely 15 years of age at the time). As Joe could drive, his first activity on leaving Central Fire Station was to acquire a car. It is difficult for me to pass Butt Bridge without thinking about Joe apologetically taking a car from a pleasant elderly couple, who

Dr Tracey Connolly and Las Fallon

The plaque gives an insight into how well Joe was regarded by the brigade and I believe that from these sentiments, he was anything but driven by his own ambitions.

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1916 CAPTAIN CONNOLLY I understand were left extremely perplexed as he drove off. During Easter week, Joe was under the command of Michael Mallin at Stephen’s Green and later at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI). I grew up knowing the story of Joe saving a man who had been shot on the roof of the RCSI. Later I learnt that the man’s name was Michael O Doherty. I also understood that Joe had saved another man who was shot crossing the road between Stephen’s Green and the RCSI. What our family found amusing was how Joe was seriously verbally reprimanded for such actions by Countess Markievicz and almost in the next breath was promoted. When surrender came, Joe pulled down a large curtain from a window at the RCSI. His reason for doing so was because he didn’t know where he would be taken to, and the curtain would serve as a blanket in case it was somewhere cold. The curtain subsequently went to Frongoch with him. When he was released, it returned back home with him and was kept by the family until it finally disintegrated. According to my parents the curtain was a shade of red and although initially very long, it had been made into a makeshift sleeping bag, presumably by Joe. As the prisoners were being marched from the RCSI they passed by Dublin Castle and were halted for some time in front of shallow graves which had been dug, they assumed for them. However, this was not to be their fate and they were subsequently marched on to Richmond Barracks. As it later transpired, Joe’s brother Séan had already been buried in the castle grounds. Equipped with little or no information, his widow Christine had the harrowing experience of checking morgues throughout the city trying to locate his body and in the bedlam, it took a week before Séan’s body was located, released and finally buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. The description of the cattle boat in which Joe was transported across the Irish Sea, to be later interned at Frongoch, was always vividly described

CFO Pat Fleming spoke at Captain Connolly’s graveside in Glasnevin earlier this year

to me by my father, as it had been described to him by his father. The curtain from the RCSI played an important role here in keeping Joe warm. Among the Frongoch stories passed on to me, the ones I dreaded hearing most were the stories about the rats, which were rampant. At Frongoch, Joe met a man by the name of de Lacy who had fought at Enniscorthy. Coincidentally, decades later Joe’s daughter Vera married Eamon, son of the de Lacy man who Joe had met at Frongoch. I have recently learnt that Patrick Swanzey, brother of Christine (Séan Connolly’s widow) was also in Frongoch with Joe. My grandmother Ellen made significant donations to the National Museum of items pertaining to 1916, and I assume this was towards the 50th anniversary of the Rising. Items which were retained by the family give rise to questions about who made them, amongst many others. For example, I have a 5cm harp which was made either by Joe or given to him by someone else at Frongoch. It is magnificently crafted with Celtic designs and indicative of the crafts made by Frongoch prisoners, which sought to reflect Irish culture and heritage. I remember clearly a day from my

childhood when we visited Joe’s brother Mattie. He opened up his couch to reveal a shelf underneath, and from it he gave my father a parchment which he had been minding. The parchment was made in Frongoch by Tomás Ua Cuinn for my grandfather and provides a valuable insight into life at Frongoch and the humorous story of a fire drill as follows: “In deepest appreciation of the very valuable assistance rendered by you in the capacity of Chief of the Insurgents Fire Brigade at our memorable summer residence Frongoch Interment Camp and to sometimes recall to your memory the auspicious occasion on which the steam siren and bugle sounded the alarm of fire after the usual night inspections … ‘Twould be difficult to imagine a more comic incident than that displayed by a few of our fellow exiles who thinking the alarm genuine rushed for clothing. But can the military efficiency be forgotten when the soldiers fixed escape ladders to barred windows? … I doubt not, Chief, your services would be more beneficial in our own city than extinguishing a rotten distillery in Wales and though we supply you not with a stripe for services rendered; we hold in our memories more than a stripe could ever purchase or supply.”

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1916 CAPTAIN CONNOLLY A LIFE RECALLED My father had very happy memories living at Central Fire Station as a young child. He used to describe it as a place of deep rooted collegiality. It was his understanding that he was the first male born at the station. Interestingly the midwife at his birth and at the births of his three siblings also born at Central Fire Station was their grandmother Mary Connolly, who was the first registered midwife in Ireland. My father often spoke warmly about Lieutenent James Howard, and whilst my father was too young to remember James, he always shared his parents’ description of James as a most capable colleague. I remember Séan Connolly’s daughter, Madge, describing to me her excitement as a child whenever her mother pointed out her Uncle Joe in the Chief’s car travelling through the streets of Dublin. A quick look around our house at the possessions which belonged to Joe can tell something about the type of man he was. He was a well-read person and, for example, his Harmsworth Encyclopaedia and Harmsworth Self Educator volumes are testament to this, with their well-turned and marked pages, as are his books as Gaeilge which were produced by the Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language. I have a 1932 book signed by the author in which he writes: “With the compliments of the author to Captain Joe Connolly – one of the most deservedly popular officials in Dublin public life – and a typical representative of the cultured children of the Gael.” Joe held a Diploma and engaged in numerous correspondences courses and opportunities for further learning. A tin whistle was always kept in Joe’s coat top pocket and he was known to play a tune. A quick flick through old family photos shows that he had a love of nature and enjoyed family life. Joe brought in many positive developments to the Brigade. However, I am aware that his role was not without frustration, as he raised issues and endeavoured to get further improvements sanctioned in the interest of health and safety. 2016

marks the 80th anniversary of the Pearse Street Fire and the deaths of Robert Malone (who my grandfather knew from Frongoch), Peter McArdle and Thomas Nugent, ar dheis dé go raibh a n-anamacha. I grew up being well aware of this tragedy and the aftermath. The solidarity of the Brigade throughout this tragedy is to my mind more than evident. As a child I witnessed the enormity of the Whiddy Island disaster when the Betelgeuse oil tanker exploded in Bantry Bay. The image of endless smoke is very much engrained in my mind, as are the consequences and aftermath of such a tragedy on individuals, families and communities. My father, like his grandfather, was a captain in the merchant navy and my father eventually settled to the more family friendly and home-based career as tug boat captain. This role involved substantial firefighting training and he was deeply involved with his crew in firefighting during the Whiddy Island disaster. I often think about the Pearse Street Fire and the Whiddy Island disaster. Although 40 years apart from each other, these tragedies bring home for me the selflessness and remarkable bravery of anyone in a career which involves fighting fire. I have the shell casing of a bullet from Joe’s funeral. The shell is engraved with his name and date. As a child it used to conjure up images of what his funeral was like, having the tricolour over his coffin, the formality of the ceremony and the presence of Dublin Fire Brigade at his funeral. January 2016 saw the laying of wreaths on the graves of former members of the Brigade who had fought in the Easter Rising. The event was organised and hosted by Dublin Fire Brigade. For me, this was a very emotional day which saw the most remarkable connections between families being made. At this event I met the Fitzpatrick family, whose father Dinny was part of the Dublin Fire Brigade committee which presented the plaque to Joe. This for me was an incredible moment when this dot was joined. At this event I was pleased to present the Brigade with

replicas of the parchments which I refer to in this article, and these will be kept at the Brigade’s museum. The commemorative work of the Brigade and the rigorous research undertaken by Las and Donal Fallon has had a most positive impact on my family and I. I wish to thank Chief Fire Officer Pat Fleming and those who serve Dublin Fire Brigade for their Trojan work towards organising these important commemorative events. The words and sentiments of the plaque presented to my grandfather Joe are the threads which for me have kept the link between the Dublin Fire Brigade and my family together. Passing on details to the next generation is imperative to keeping such links alive, which fortunately is what my parents did for me. On Easter Sunday 2016, O’Connell Street, Dublin witnessed an outpouring of immense national pride as the parade commemorating 1916 passed along the street. As Dublin Fire Brigade passed by my hand was squeezed by Saoirse, our eight-year-old daughter, and as I turned to her, the look in her eyes as she pointed at the Brigade with her other hand told me in that instance that the legacy of Dublin Fire Brigade in the Connolly family was certainly going to be preserved for another generation.

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BELFAST BLITZ

BELFAST BLITZ REMEMBERED

Dublin Fire Brigade historian Las Fallon was among those in attendance at a recent event in Belfast to commemorate the Belfast Blitz.

n the night of 15/16th April 1941, Belfast was targeted by squadrons of German bombers flying from airfields in occupied France. Belfast contained shipyards, an aircraft factory, and was heavily involved in manufacturing everything from munitions to uniforms for the British war effort. The Luftwaffe rained death and destruction on Belfast in that raid and again in a further heavy raid on May 5th. On each occasion the Belfast Fire Brigade were stretched beyond the capability of any fire service to cope.

They sought the assistance of the surrounding towns but soon realised that major help was needed. Calls for help to the UK resulted in pumps and crews being sent to Glasgow and Liverpool for transport on to Belfast. It would take time for those crews to assemble and further time to arrange shipping and naval escorts in the dangerous waters of the Irish Sea. Immediate help was required and the northern government did the unthinkable â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they appealed to the government of the south for help. The call to Dublin resulted in the Taoiseach, Eamon de Valera, giving

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Opening image: Las Fallon speaking on the Belfast Blitz. Above: Las Fallon, Ian Wilson (NIWM), Paul Hand and John McCrory. Photos: Northern Ireland War Memorial

permission for volunteer crews from the Irish fire service to go north to help their fellow countrymen and women in their hour of need. Six pumps went from Dublin Fire Brigade, three each manned by regular firefighters and members of the AFS. Other pumps were sent from Dún Laoghaire, Drogheda and Dundalk. On each occasion the volunteers stepped forward and their assistance helped to save lives and property in Belfast. This act of wartime bravery has not been forgotten and this year, on the 75th anniversary of the Belfast Blitz, Dublin Fire Brigade was invited to take part in events remembering the awful nights of the 1941 Blitz.

COMMEMORATION On April 15th, together with Paul Hand of the DFB Museum and John McCrory of A watch HQ, a proud Belfast man and our driver for the day, we set off for Belfast. Our visit was at the invitation of the Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum (NIWM). The War Memorial Museum and its curator

Ciaran Elizabeth Doran, its director Ian Wilson and other staff are old friends of DFB having met up in 2015 at a lunch sponsored by the NIWM in the National Museum in Collins Barracks. At that time myself and Paul and other personnel from the Defence Forces, National Museum of Ireland and other fire services met with NIWM personnel and discussed the forthcoming anniversary among other things. As a gesture of remembrance of the events of 1941 the Chief Fire Officer, Pat Fleming, decided to place a helmet of the period on loan with the NIWM as a permanent reminder of the contribution of the firefighters from the south during the Belfast Blitz. The helmet chosen was a Dún Laoghaire helmet of the period and its significance was that it linked both Dublin firefighters and Dún Laoghaire firefighters of the period in a shared history, as indeed it linked both Dublin Fire Brigade and Belfast city in another shared history. The helmet was handed over in a dignified and moving ceremony on the actual anniversary of

April 15th attended by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, the US Consul in the city, as well as many other guests including survivors of the 1941 Blitz. On the following Sunday Paul Hand and I were back in Belfast for a service of remembrance in St. Anne’s Cathedral. The cathedral itself was a victim of the Blitz and was rebuilt in later years. Again we represented Dublin Fire Brigade and met a group of serving and retired firefighters from Drogheda and Dundalk who were remembering their wartime involvement. Mayor of Drogheda, Paul Bell, led the southern contingent. Two wartime engines from Drogheda and Dundalk were present at St. Anne’s Cathedral and got huge attention from the crowd at the service and from passers-by.

BACK AGAIN DFB were invited to another event to mark the Blitz in early May. This time the venue was the football grounds of Glentoran Football Club in East

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BELFAST BLITZ 1941, the night of a ‘bomber’s moon’ when the Luftwaffe planes could navigate their way to the target city by moonlight. In an eerie and remarkable piece of theatre the stage went dark in the Belfast dusk as we looked out over East Belfast and the towering cranes of the old shipyards. On the stage from speakers, playing at full volume, came first the sound of the air raid sirens closely followed by the drone of approaching aircraft. The noise of anti-aircraft fire shot out but was immediately drowned by the roar and noise of bombs exploding in the area around us. The sound show went on for about five minutes and was an amazing experience. This was followed immediately by a wreath laying ceremony where a wreath was laid by Peter Barriscale on behalf of the Dublin firefighters who served in Belfast, and which was greeted with loud applause. Each of these events at the War Memorial Museum, St. Anne’s Cathedral and Glentoran were different but each had a dignity and a sense of pride. It was a privilege to be there and to be part of them and to know that the heroism of those who volunteered to go into danger in that Blitz of 1941 has not been forgotten. To those men of the DFB and DLFB, all long gone now, and to the 1,000 or more victims of the Belfast Blitz: Ar dheis dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

THE BELFAST BLITZ

Belfast. The Glentoran grounds are right beside the Harland and Wolff shipyard and the site of the former wartime Short and Harland aircraft factory. The ground was destroyed in the May 5th raid as were many of the small streets around the shipyard, with many casualties. At the invitation of Jim Welsh of the Glentoran Supporters Trust, Dublin Fire Brigade was asked to attend a memorial service in the ground on May 4th. Again I was privileged to attend, along with D/O Peter Barriscale. Peter and I made the trip to Belfast where we linked up with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) at Belfast Central fire station. We travelled the short distance to Glentoran’s grounds where we were taken back in time by the appearance of not only the wartime Drogheda and Dundalk pumps, but also a Lisburn pump of the period. Along with these exhibits there was a wartime anti-aircraft gun and searchlight as well as a replica Spitfire fighter plane and a variety of displays and stands and guests in period costume. NIFRS had a modern pump and crew at the event as well. We were treated as honoured guests by Jim Welsh and the Glentoran group. We watched as a series of talks and music on a stage set up on the pitch brought us back to the night of May 4th

Las Fallon, John McCrory and Paul Hand. Photo: Northern Ireland War Memorial

In their seminal book on the history of Dublin Fire Brigade, authors Tom Geraghty and Trevor Whitehead note that virtually all Dublin firefighters on duty when the request for assistance came in volunteered to travel north to aid their colleagues. It was a journey into an unknown scenario for these men. “The firemen clung to their open vehicles thundering at 60mph through the chilly morning on a journey of the brave into the unknown. The drivers kept their hands warm by sitting on one hand while driving with the other and changing over when the driving hand became frozen, while the crew alternated stuffing a hand inside their jackets while holding on with the other. Apart from the fact that none of the men could comprehend the extent of the destructive mayhem they faced, hardly any of them had ever been to Belfast before. Very little talk took place on this epic journey as each man kept his own counsel, apprehensive as to what he would encounter. From Killeen Border Post the pumps were escorted by military motorcycles right through to Belfast.” A total of 71 firefighters from Dublin, Dún Laoghaire, Dundalk and Drogheda travelled to Belfast on April 15th, with further crews called upon during another German bombing raid on the city on May 4th.

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INTERNATIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

CANADIAN

Canadian military firefighters undertake an interesting and varied role across Canada’s Armed Forces bases, including operations overseas. Conor Forrest spoke with Commandant Major Neil Anderson, head of the Armed Forces’ firefighting training academy, to discover more.

ife as a military firefighter is a little different than your usual fire department. For starters, their area of responsibility covers military bases, naval ships and, in some cases, military aircraft. And, while firefighters in Dublin could face redeployment to other stations around the city if necessary, for military firefighters there’s a chance of deployment overseas to military bases in conflict zones like Afghanistan, or as part of peacekeeping missions abroad. In the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), emergency response is provided by the Canadian Forces Fire and Emergency Services. For the most part, these firefighters receive their training at the Canadian Forces Fire and Chemical, Biological, Radiological

and Nuclear Academy (CFFCA) located at Base Borden, Ontario. Both military firefighters and Department of National Defence (DND) firefighters receive their training here. The Academy comprises two entities – the Fire Training Squadron (FTS) and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Squadron (CTS). The FTS delivers the core training required for firefighters, while the CTS provides training for personnel that perform secondary CBRN duties. On entry, recruits first undergo a military qualification course, which provides the basic skills and knowledge common across all Army trades. That’s followed by a more detailed course in Borden, which takes around seven months. During this time firefighters learn how to

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operate fire apparatus, structural operations on the fireground, safety, aircraft rescue and rescue in other situations, map reading, hazardous material awareness, while adhering to strict physical fitness standards. The training area, similar to the OBI but on a much larger scale, is known as the Disaster Village, and features three towers, aircraft mock-ups, a rescue maze and various other training vehicles such as derailed train cars. Firefighters can then go on to expand their skill-set either through formal or on the job training – with roles available as airport firefighter, fire inspector, fire investigator, fire instructor, hazardous material incident commander, fire officer and hazardous material technician. At the helm of the CFFCA is

Commandant Major Neil Anderson. Major Anderson enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) directly into the fire service and subsequently served as a shipboard firefighter and was deployed to Macedonia as part of Operation Guarantor in 1998. Fourteen years later he accepted a commission as a construction engineering officer, which was followed by roles including Wing Fire Chief, Chief Instructor at the CFFCA, and Operations and Policy Desk Officer with the Office of the Canadian Forces Fire Marshal (CFFM). “There are approximately 850 firefighters serving with the National Defence Fire Services (NDFS), with an almost 50-50 split between military and Department of National Defence (DND) civilian firefighters,” he tells me. “Military recruitment is based upon the Annual Occupational Review Strategic Intake Plan, and it varies by year, it is normally based upon attrition forecasts. DND firefighters are ‘recruited’ through the departmental staffing process, as/when required by each location. The military recruits from a mix of occupational transfers (military tradespersons who transfer to the firefighting trade), direct entry personnel with no military experience, and semi-skilled personnel who have prior firefighting training from a recognised training institute. This permits for a good blend of experience for the fire service.”

DAILY LIFE Not every military land base includes a military or DND firefighting crew, though the majority do, while the remainder have arrangements with jurisdictional civilian fire departments. Officially members of the Air Force, CAF firefighters can provide support to Royal Canadian Navy, Army or Air Force operations. Their primary responsibilities are quite broad – ranging from rescue operations, inspections and equipment maintenance to public instruction and education, helicopter rescues from Navy vessels and emergency medical

response. DND civilian firefighters work on a 24/72 hour shift rotation (the military operates on a 28 day cycle of three days, three nights, four off, four days, six off and four nights), though a variety of shifts are available depending on the need. Military firefighters don’t work on this rotation, as it doesn’t give them the time to complete their required training. The NDFS fleet is organised along five main categories: Pumpers, Aerials, Range Vehicles (used in wildland firefighting and for access to tough terrain), Aircraft Rescue and specialised/utility vehicles. The latter includes command and rescue or Hazmat vehicles, tracked wildland firefighting vehicles, and simple utility vehicles. A fire tug is also available for deployment on each coast. Anderson also explains that, as with Dublin Fire Brigade, medical emergencies now represent a large number of cases to which firefighters are called. The NDFS responded to a total of 7,007 incidents in 2015 – 2,282 were related to aircraft, 1,083 were medical emergencies, and 463 were fire-related incidents. Their main challenge, however, isn’t necessarily the range of incidents to which they areStudents called,participate but theinneed a national mobilisation fight theof Zika virus. to maintain their skills.to“One the Photo: Gabriel Jabur/Agência Brasília main challenges is skill fade and trying to keep current, whilst supporting operations, training and performing required maintenance,” Anderson explains. “It is difficult to meet all of the requirements and still have time to target particular training that each firefighter may require focus on.” As a result, a strong emphasis is placed on ongoing training. To support this, their proficiency programme training has been recently revised to both bring it up to date and to align their programme timelines, providing more efficient progress tracking and personnel development. “Specialised training is available, from time to time, but it is typically a local initiative. For example, some locations may wish to enhance their auto extrication skills and may compete in competitions. Others may prefer to focus on water

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Anderson also explains that, as with Dublin Fire Brigade, medical emergencies now represent a large number of cases to which firefighters are called. rescue, as they have a lot of water around them,” Anderson adds. “Since the military firefighters are mandated to perform light urban search and rescue, this is training which is not delivered at CFFCA but is contracted out. Only two locations (Canadian Forces Bases Comox and Trenton) actually stand up to respond to such incidents, as required, and they are the only two who involve their personnel in this specialised training.”

WORKING ABROAD These firefighters are also soldiers, and can be deployed abroad to work on overseas Canadian bases for up to six months – past missions have

included the Canadian military operations in Afghanistan, and as part of the overall response team deployed to Haiti after the devastating earthquake there in 2010. “Firefighters are indeed deployed on overseas missions and their experiences differ based on the operational requirement of the mission and what the firefighter is tasked to perform,” says Anderson. If deployed on a naval vessel, firefighters will be tasked with operating flight control and assisting with helicopter operations, while they also work with the Air detachment. Land-based deployments generally incorporate roles such as task force fire marshal

or fire inspector, with responsibility for fire inspections, training troops in fire and emergency response, and procurement of firefighting equipment alongside other safety requirements. “These firefighters are still considered as soldiers and are often required to perform soldiering duties, such as observation point duties and patrols,” he adds. “Some opportunities arise in which the firefighter is deployed just as a firefighter and will typically respond to emergencies, with the focus normally being on aircraft.” Pre-deployment training is generic, with the majority of soldiers receiving the same instruction. Some of this takes place in Kingston, Ontario, though Major Anderson tells me that the majority is provided from being embedded with a combat unit which is being made operationready. “Types of topics are varied, and include: weapons training, ‘Actions-on’, cultural training, medical training and much more,” he explains. “Any type of specific training offered to military firefighters on

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deployment would be based upon the operation (e.g. armoured vehicle extraction for Army-ops). For other such operations, it may include familiarisation on the airframes being employed, and the fire vehicles used. For fire inspectors, training would normally consist of self-training through exposure to the documents regarding deployment on operations, distances, camp layout, and the like.” During Operation Impact, which saw Canadian forces joining the coalition for military intervention against ISIL in Iraq and Syria, a number of firefighters were also deployed, with responsibility for tasks including fire prevention and providing firefighting training. For Operation Impact, a crew of aircraft technicians served as base firefighters, having been trained to use a deployable firefighting unit. “I’m learning a lot on this deployment because I don’t often perform fire prevention activities in my home unit,” one firefighter told theglobalcoalition.org. “This

is an outstanding opportunity to increase my skill-sets. I truly feel that I have an impact on the safety of everyone who’s been deployed here.” Life as a firefighter within the Canadian Armed Forces offers an interesting and varied career within the global sector. Major Anderson notes that the foremost attractions include the ability to provide a life-saving service, in service of their country. “One of the most attractive points of the job is that when you are called, it is normally to assist someone in need. That is what the fire service is all about, helping others, whether it be protection through an intense prevention programme or professionalism in emergency response,” he says. “Whether we are military or civilian, and whether we are serving abroad or here in Canada, we are all proudly supporting those who serve our country and there is little more attractive or rewarding than that.”

FORT MCMURRAY FIRE

Opening image: Firefighter apprentice undergoing training. Left & far left : Apprentice training. Photos: Cpl Katie Hodges. Bottom: Borden fire tender. Photo: MCPL Mary Mechalko

One of the most recent incidents in Canada was the Fort McMurray wildfire (which was tackled by civilian firefighters without military assistance), which swept through the city of Fort McMurray in early May, and spread throughout the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The fire consumed around 600,000 hectares of land, with 2,400 buildings destroyed, and is the most expensive disaster in Canadian history. Thousands of people were evacuated from the danger zones, with planes and buses drafted in to take people to safety, including a Canadian Armed Forces C-130 Hercules from CFB Trenton. At the end of May, a group of firefighters arrived from South Africa to help tackle the fires, members of the Working on Fire programme. Resettlement efforts began on June 1st, though were hampered by a number of homes and structures (although undamaged by the fires) being declared unsafe due to the presence of traces of arsenic in ash samples. According to experts, it could take until September for this ash to be cleared. On top of other relief measures, CAD$40m was provided by the Canadian Red Cross to help evacuees return home, alongside a second wave of financial assistance on their return to help ease the pressures. “Going home will not be easy – the fires not only destroyed homes and infrastructure but for many families also wiped out their basic supplies such as food, clothing, linens and hygiene items,” said Jenn McManus, vice-president of Alberta operations for the Canadian Red Cross. “Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, I am pleased to announce that we are able to provide additional emergency financial assistance to households after re-entry, to help people meet their immediate needs.” FIRECALL SUMMER

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BOOKSHELF

Revolutionary

READING:

1916 BOOKS REVIEWED THE SCRAP BY GENE KERRIGAN. €20.55 (EASON). It might seem unusual to look at an historical event like the 1916 Rising through the prism of a novel, but that is what writer Gene Kerrigan has done with The Scrap. The Scrap looks at the events of Easter week as it affected one small group of Volunteers. Using Bureau of Military History witness statements, the book follows the story of these men and women in a way that brings them and their story to life. Kerrigan’s gift for dialogue and atmosphere makes this a book, which is well worth a read.

DFB historian Las Fallon picks out the cream of the crop of books recently published on the Easter Rising.

WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK IN 1916

THE GPO GARRISON

CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT IN THE EASTER RISING

EASTER WEEK 1916 BY JIMMY WREN. €29.95 (GEOGRAPHY PUBLICATIONS).

BY DEREK MOLYNEUX AND DARREN KELLY. €14.39 (COLLINS PRESS).

Jimmy Wren has done all who study 1916 and the Rising an immense favour. His book The GPO Garrison Easter Week 1916 gives us the names and details of all who served in the GPO garrison in 1916. It is a labour of love but also of pure scholarship, and is illustrated throughout by small pictures of the participants drawn by Jimmy himself. His list of appendices is comprehensive and includes the brave and possibly overdue one of ’People whose obituaries state that they were in the GPO garrison but do not appear in official sources’!

Another book which takes you through the week in a very readable fashion, and which puts the reader at the heart of the action, is When The Clock Struck in 1916: Closequarter combat in the Easter Rising by Derek Molyneux and Darren Kelly, brilliantly written by two historians who know the story of the Rising inside-out. The book is written in a way that almost makes it seem like a novel and captures the experience for the reader. Well researched, well written and well worth a place on any bookshelf. The GPO Garrison Cover final 29/09/2015 12:30 Page 1

Jimmy Wren

Jimmy Wren is a lifelong member of the GAA and he was a playing member of both the Dublin senior hurling team and St Laurence O’Tooles, winning a Dublin senior hurling championship medal with the north side club in 1969. Jimmy is a lifelong member of the Old Dublin Society and author of a number of books including The Villages of Dublin (1982), Crinan, Dublin: a history of 13 north inner-city streets (1993), Saint Laurence O’Toole GAC Centenary History, 1901-2001 (2001), and was a contributor to The Gaelic Athletic Association in Dublin, 1884-2000, three vols (2005). Jimmy’s father, James Wren, and his father’s first cousins, Paddy and Tommy Mahon, were members of the GPO Garrison during Easter Week 1916.

The GPO Garrison, Easter Week 1916: A Biographical Dictionary

Jimmy Wren was born in Donnycarney in 1937. He was educated at CBS Marino, College of Commerce, Rathmines, National College of Art and Design and Heatherly College of Art, London. As a former employee of Dublin Corporation’s Housing Department he has an intimate knowledge of the geography of Dublin City.

The GPO Garrison Easter Week 1916 A Biographical Dictionary

Jimmy Wren

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BOOKSHELF

THE 1916 DIARIES OF AN IRISH REBEL AND A BRITISH SOLDIER BY MICK O’FARRELL. €12.99 (MERCIER PRESS). Mick O’Farrell is well known to historians of the Easter Rising. His excellent book The 1916 Diaries of an Irish Rebel and a British Soldier looks at the Rising through the diaries of two participants, Volunteer Seosamh de Brun and Company Sergeant-Major S.H. Lomas of the Sherwood Foresters. De Brun was a member of the Jacob’s Garrison and Lomas a senior NCO who would find himself on the firing squad that shot Pearse, MacDonagh and Clarke. Their stories give us an insight into the lives of those who fought in the Rising.

COURAGE BOYS, WE ARE WINNING BY MICHAEL BARRY. €16.66 (KENNYS.IE). Courage Boys, We Are Winning by Michael Barry is an illustrated history of the 1916 Rising by an historian who is a master of his trade. He uses a well-balanced mix of photographs, maps and illustrations to tell the story of the Rising, as well as an informed and intelligent commentary on those illustrations. His choice of photos will bring many new images to the attention of readers and includes many modern day photos of key locations. It is an excellent book and again well worth space on any bookshelf.

16 LIVES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. €14.99 EACH (THE O’BRIEN PRESS/EASON). Let me say that I would absolutely recommend any and all of the Sixteen Lives (O’Brien Press) series, which are biographies of those who were executed in the aftermath of the Rising. Do I have a favourite? Well, I am very partial to the one on John McBride – you might see why when you see the cover.

RICHMOND BARRACKS 1916 WE WERE THERE – 77 WOMEN OF THE EASTER RISING BY MARY MCAULIFFE AND LIZ GILLIS. €22.45 (LOCAL BOOKSHOPS OR ONLINE AT WWW. FOURCOURTSPRESS.IE). The story of the women of the revolutionary period had been left to one side in 1966 and for many years after. That has been addressed by a number of excellent studies over the past year and one of the best is Richmond Barracks 1916: We were there – 77 Women of the Easter Rising by Mary McAuliffe and the brilliant Liz Gillis. The book tells the story of the 77 women held at Richmond Barracks detention centre in the aftermath of the Rising, and is an essential read for anyone interested in the Rising.

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TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS

TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS We bring you the latest developments in firefighting and EMS technology.

GREAT American security systems company Tyco International has recently launched Scott Sight, a new in-mask thermal intelligence system for firefighters. The device has been developed to improve safety on firegrounds by providing real-time thermal imaging via a lightweight camera, with thermal imagery in view at all times. The device arose from discussions with firefighters, who noted the need for increased visibility in dark environments. Scott Sight both supplements existing handheld technology and also leaves hands free to perform other critical operations. “This enhanced capability is the direct result of a need expressed by

firefighters to have thermal imaging technology that’s more accessible and easier to use,” said Jeff Emery, director of global marketing with Tyco’s Scott Safety business. “Tyco has invested heavily in developing innovative solutions for the fire services, reflecting our deep commitment to the firefighter community. It’s personally fulfilling for the Scott Safety team when we can introduce advancements like Scott Sight that will better protect the firefighters and enable them to work more effectively in challenging environments.” Scott Sight is the first product to arise from Tyco’s Firefighter of the Future initiative, a team founded in 2014 to develop innovative solutions that improve firefighter safety and contribute to more rapid and accurate situational awareness. “Making thermal imaging accessible was a first step,” stated Kim Henry, director of growth initiatives for Scott Safety and the leader of the Firefighter of the Future team. “One of the key challenges we faced was to create an adjustable, sleek design that wouldn’t interfere with the firefighter’s personal protection equipment, field of view or scene hazards. Scott Sight addresses those challenges, while creating a platform that will expand to offer additional capabilities in the future.” Pictured: Scott Sight is the first in-mask thermal intelligence system for firefighters, an innovation of Scott Safety, Tyco’s life safety products business. Photo: PRNewsFoto/Tyco

THE SMART BRAIN Norwegian outfit Smartbrain has developed a nifty device that could prove useful for paramedics – a helmet that can run an EEG scan on patients in the K-MAX helicopter. Photo: Lockheed Martin ambulance or at the scene of the accident. The device was developed by the company as a portable system for early detection of concussion. Though the current prototype is quite hefty, weighing in at 4.5kg, more refined models are planned when the product goes into production following development and testing. The helmet features an elastic membrane inside the helmet to ensure full and even contact across the scalp, while conducting gel allows for electrical contact. Once a reading has been taken, the system compares the results to a signal database to determine if the patient is likely to have a head injury. FIRECALL SUMMER

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TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS

ECALL In the event of an accident, getting help to the scene quickly can be the difference between life and death, particularly on motorbikes. That’s why BMW developed the Intelligent Emergency Call system (eCall) – during a European trial emergency services were able to respond and reach the scene of the accident much quicker. Though eCall has been used on cars in Europe since 1999, eCall will be available on a motorcycle for the first time from January 2017. Whether the system is automatically or manually triggered, site coordinates are sent to a BMW call centre, which alerts the emergency services. The system can recognise nonemergency situations such as the bike falling over while stationary, or low speed accidents with no other traffic users involved.

SEEK OUT

Seek RevealXR FastFrame. Photo: PRNewsFoto/Seek Thermal

Among the new range of products launched by Seek Thermal is the RevealXR FastFrame, which includes a 20-degree field of view, a 300-lumen LED flashlight and thermal detection distance of up to 275m away. The handheld device has been built for rugged use, and infrared images can be captured outdoors both at night and during the day. The rechargeable lithium ion battery has a runtime of over ten hours. “There is no question that new technologies are constantly improving our ability to perform our duties in the field, but if we can’t afford to get the tools into the hands of all the firefighters, it doesn’t maximize the benefits,” said Rich Marinucci, Executive Director of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association in the US.

MANAGEMENT For first responders operating around the globe, technology is playing an increasingly important role on and behind the front lines. Enter Howthbased D4H Techologies, an accomplished team of computer scientists and emergency managers who have injected global visibility into tens of thousands of operations on every continent in the world through their information management software. The company was founded in 2008 by Robin Blandford who joined the Irish Coast Guard as a volunteer while studying computer engineering at DCU. While on a graduate programme he began to build an incident database for use by first responders, such as missing persons statistics, and a hobby grew into a fully fledged business. For fire departments, D4H’s technology is used to manage personnel, equipment and training, allowing commanders to keep track of which teams are ready to be deployed, particular for larger incidents. Their code is deployed into the hands of thousands of fire chiefs, emergency managers, bomb disposal experts, hazmat technicians, corporate boards, airlines, and campus managers around the world, and they recently added the State of Massachusetts to their impressive list of clients.

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COMING HOME TO ROOST Left: FLIR K Series. Photo: Cina & Anneli Fotografer/Anneli Larsson

THERMAL SOLUTIONS FLIR Systems has introduced several new thermal imaging solutions for firefighters. The FLIR K33 and K53 are handheld devices with a small four-inch screen that can be easily used on the job to see through smoke, identify hotspots, navigate safely and maintain orientation during incidents. Next up is the DJI Zenmuse XT, which provides aerial thermal imaging with the DJI Inspire 1 drone. The FLIRequipped drone packages offer first responders the ability to assess the scene from the air, and to keep track of their personnel during large incidents. Finally, the KF6 is the fire industry’s first thermal imaging camera for aerial ladders. Mounted on fire ladders, the device allows for better observation and planning for large building, warehouse or structure fires.

A smart fire alarm which texts you if it detects smoke is one of the latest devices to join the Internet of Things. A lower-cost alternative to Google’s Nest, the Roost smoke alarm (fire, carbon monoxide and natural gas alarms form the rest of the range) connects to your home network via Wi-Fi and is fitted with a sensor that reduces nuisance or false alarms,

such as steam from cooking. Once you download the app you can receive alerts in the event of the incident, and the monitoring features also allow trusted contacts to receive an alert if the alarm sounds.

MEET THE AirMule Having successfully completed an untethered test flight earlier this year, Tactical Robotics’ AirMule is an autonomous, unmanned aircraft that can fly and land in spaces ordinary helicopters cannot, and is capable of airlifting two people to safety. Currently the AirMule can transport 500kg of cargo over a distance of 50km, with total cargo volume of 2,640L. Capable of precision hovering and operation in hard weather conditions, AirMule is also equipped with a rocket-deployed parachute that can be used in the event of a malfunction. Future versions will feature extended abilities – the Cormorant

variety will carry a load up to 440kg a distance of 300km; closer distances will allow heavier loads to be transported. Maximum speed will be 100 knots, and it will be able to operate at heights of up to 18,000 feet. “Looking back at a decade of internal rotor VTOL aircraft development at Urban Aeronautics Ltd, it gives me great satisfaction to see that we are able to transform a dream into a safe and reliable aircraft that is designed to meet manned helicopters’ safety criteria and absolutely stands up to existing airworthiness standards,” said Rafi Yoeli, CEO of Tactical Robotics’ parent company, Urban Aeronautics. “With close to 200 flights on the AirMule prototype we are confident that this capability can be fielded in just a few years to provide breakthrough capabilities to any military force or civil agency that needs to robotically deliver systems, supplies and other provisions in and out of otherwise inaccessible environments.” FIRECALL SUMMER

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TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS

Rugged AND READY Computer designer and manufacturer Getac, which produces a range of rugged devices, has recently launched the Getac S410 rugged laptop, a combination of a business notebook and a full-rugged device. The new laptop is dust and water resistant, can withstand drops of up to three feet, and includes a hot-swappable battery, a high-visibility touchscreen that can be used even if the user is wearing gloves or if the screen is wet, alongside communications capabilities and GPS. “The S410 builds on our success in the semi-rugged notebook space, providing a combination of design, performance and versatility,” said Chris Bye, President of Getac in the UK. “The S410 offers the functionality and reliability that our customers can depend upon.” Other features include a splashproof keyboard, Intel’s Skylake U-Series CPUs, vehicle dock and vibration resistance. Multi-factor authentication and fingerprint touch technology is also available, with expandable storage of up to 1TB. Getac S410. Photo: Hugh Threlfall

CAD mock-up of the hub. Image: ResponderX

TRACKING FIRST RESPONDERS

ResponderX, an organisation founded in 2014 by Andrew Jarrett, a volunteer firefighter and businessman in Texas, has developed the Task Force Tracker, which consists of four major elements – a small wearable device that provides real-time information about the location and condition of first responders; mobile tablets for displaying location and situational information; communication hubs which process information from the wearables; and a cloud management system that allows for device management, incident

playback and more. The idea came about after Jarrett responded to a fatal fire in his hometown of Byran, which resulted in serious burns for a fellow firefighter. “Our end goal is to produce a system that is rugged, easy to adopt and use, and affordable so that we can get this in the hands of not only large municipal departments, but also the small volunteer agencies that often don’t have the manpower for separate command and safety,” he explains. “The wearables themselves are designed to be nearly disposable (around $200 USD), and there is nothing to turn on or deploy when units arrive on scene... the system is always on and seamlessly starts recording data as soon as firefighters step off the truck.”

COATING A new fire retardant ‘ceramifying polymeric technology’ has been developed by Finnish company Finnester Coatings Oy, designed for use on the exterior of trains and metro cars, capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 1000°C. HybridRED is a combination of organic and inorganic materials and forms a stable ceramic shield when exposed to fire.

“HybridRED has the structural integrity to prolong ignition times and curtail smoke generation, which reduce the risk of fire in train or subway tunnels. This ceramifying polymeric material also protects carriages from corrosion, UV, ice, abrasion and graffiti. Smooth and gloss RAL finishes are easily applied and maintained,” said Ari Hokkanen, President of Finnester Coatings Oy.

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Late bar Every Friday/Saturday with live music on Saturday nights and Sunday evening from 6pm

We offer free finger food to parties booked through Dublin Fire Brigade for groups of 10 or more. Capacity of up to 500 with private bar for large parties.

Discounted drinks for members of Dublin Fire Brigade when they show their badge. A discount card is also available from the bar when ID is produced.

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MOTORING AUDI R8

THE IRRESISTIBLE

AUDI HAS LAUNCHED THE LATEST AND MORE POWERFUL VERSION OF ITS POPULAR R8. CONOR FORREST BUCKLED IN AND TOOK A SPIN IN THIS FANTASTIC SUPERCAR.

umans by their very nature are impulsive creatures, tending to form instant (and perhaps uninformed) opinions, whether about your new next door neighbour or your co-worker’s suspect clothing choices. And it may be at least part of the reason that the new Audi R8 V10 Plus sits right atop my ever evolving motoring wish-list. It’s a striking car that takes hold of your heart the minute you see it – even more so when you step in and turn on the engine. There’s a fantastic gurgle from the naturally aspirated and more immediate 5.2L V10, which transforms into a truly spine-tingling growl when you strap in and put the foot down, leaving the hairs on the back of your neck very much standing on end. Full disclosure – I had roughly 20 minutes with the R8 around the roads of Wicklow on an overcast day last April (not quite the Nürburgring or the beautifully crafted roads of

Romania’s Transfagarasan highway). But, as the most recent Sherlock Holmes once said, “Two minutes would have made me an expert. Five [or 20] was ample.”

OPEN ROAD There are two undeniable truths when you drive an R8. Firstly – you will go through petrol as though you have an infinite supply. It simply can’t be helped. And secondly, you will draw many envious looks. The epitome of ‘head turner’, the R8 is a beautiful car, from the windswept lines to the caged engine beneath the rear window. Unconcerned with petty issues such as fuel economy and boot space, there’s a true sense of occasion when you slide into the cocooned driver’s cockpit. In front of you is a race-inspired steering wheel, the flappy paddles waiting for you to start flicking and thunder off towards the horizon. It’s very driver-orientated – from the steering wheel you have

control of virtually the entire car, including engine start-up (via a big red button), the sound of the exhaust, driving dynamics and the flappy paddles (there’s also an automatic gearbox). The instrument cluster is dominated by a 12.3-inch TFT screen that houses the Audi Virtual Cockpit, a customisable digital display. On the road, it’s a true joy to drive. The seven-speed gearbox is seamless and, if you can change up quick enough, 0-100km/h is achievable in just 3.2 seconds. It’s a seriously quick motor – half of the R8’s components have been based on motorsport technology, including the engine and the lightweight construction. Its ease of use is actually surprising, and perhaps that’s what distinguishes it from the more exotic examples – you expect a Bugatti Veyron to scare you, but the R8 gently eases you into the supercar experience. You needn’t worry if you step out of line – quattro all-wheel drive, combined

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MOTORING AUDI R8

ENGINE:

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY?

5.2FSI V10 BHP:

610

Torque:

560 NM @ 6,500RPM

0-100 KM/H

3.2 SECONDS

C02:278g/km ANNUAL TAX OF

g2,350 Top speed: 330KM/H FUEL 12.3L/ EFFICIENCY 100KM (CLAIMED) (23MPG)

STATED

THE LOWDOWN: AUDI’S R8 V10 PLUS

with traction controls, will keep you on the straight and narrow, as will the electro-hydraulic steering. Handling is fantastic (helped by the mid-engine placement), there’s grip in abundance, and the R8 almost tricks you into thinking you’re a great driver (a bubble burst once you step back inside an ordinary car). It’s surprisingly practical for a supercar; smooth to drive at low speeds and well able to navigate every day occurrences such as tight turns, speed bumps, back roads and jam-packed supermarket car parks. And, despite the hefty engine and the quattro system, it weighs just 1,630kg, not much more than a Skoda Yeti. Two versions are available – the ‘ordinary’ V10 (540bhp) and the more powerful V10 Plus (610bhp).

Realistically speaking, this is a car for an individual with a certain income level (the key word is ‘significant’). Leaving aside the base model’s price tag of C231,500, which would secure a three-bed semi-detached in Dublin (or four houses in Longford), you have to factor in the day-to-day costs of owning a vehicle that falls within the supercar bracket. A service for a Ferrari 360 could cost well north of C1,000. Sticking four Goodyears on your Lamborghini Gallardo? Plan to fork out around C1,500 every time you change. The R8 isn’t quite in the high end exotic category, and the running costs are a little more manageable, but far more so than your ordinary daily driver. The annual tax bill is C2,350, for example, which would get you a fairly decent second hand car. Nor is the R8 a car designed for Irish roads, with myriad potholes and lurking speed vans – you won’t (or shouldn’t) get the chance to stretch its legs and take advantage of a max speed of 330km/h. But, if you’re a petrolhead, the R8 is an exhilarating machine that you should experience at least once in your lifetime.

PRICE: €266,408 FIRECALL SUMMER

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INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

EMERGENCY IN ECUADOR

he country of Ecuador lies above a destructive plate boundary, where the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American Plates – a geological term that refers to one plate being forced beneath another and into the Earth’s mantle, the layer between the planet’s crust and the outer core. The results can be devastating, from volcanic activity and tsunamis to destructive earthquakes. In 1906, for example, the Ecuador-Colombia earthquake claimed the lives of at least 500 people. On April 16th 2016, another

severe earthquake struck the coast of Ecuador, this time in the Esmeraldas province, 170km from the capital, Quito. Registering as 7.8 on the moment magnitude scale – the largest earthquake since the Tumaco quake of 1979 – settlements located several hundred kilometres from the epicentre saw buildings destroyed, while tremors were felt in Colombia and Peru. A tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre for Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama and Fiji. In the first 24 hours following the tremors, more than 55

A devastating earthquake destroyed thousands of buildings and killed hundreds of people in Ecuador earlier this year. Conor Forrest takes a look at the events of last April, and how the country has responded to the disaster.

aftershocks were felt throughout the region, while two further earthquakes hit the coast on May 18th. Initial reports stated that the damage was quite significant across the country. In Portoviejo, 200km from the epicentre, a large number of prisoners were reported to have escaped from El Rodeo prison, with the city itself badly damaged. Large parts of the town of Pedernales, only 35km from the epicentre, were destroyed, with people losing homes, businesses and family members. In one building near the coast, according to Médecins Sans Frontières

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INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

A member of the Ecuadorian military walks through one of Portoviejo’s main streets, weeks after the earthquake of April 16th, 2016. ©UNICEF/ECU/2016/Arcos (Flickr; CC BY 2.0)

(MSF), 70 people celebrating at a wedding were killed. The town’s mayor, Gabriel Alcivar, pleaded for assistance in the immediate aftermath, noting that while looting had broken out following the town’s collapse, authorities were too focused on saving lives to restore order. “We lost everything. We thought the end of the world had come that day,” Manuel, a resident of the Tamarindo neighbourhood told MSF, which dispatched four teams to Ecuador following the quake to work in the Manabi and Esmeraldas provinces, providing counselling and psycho-

edcucation activities, alongside medical consultations and disaster kits. “Some of the neighbours went to the countryside to escape the tremors while others took refuge in Pedernales stadium. Whoever runs away, survives.”

CASUALTIES Many would not survive. In total, 661 people lost their lives, with almost 28,000 injuries – Ecuador’s worst natural disaster since the 1949 Ambato earthquake, which resulted in the deaths of 5,050 people. More than 300 deaths were suffered in Portoviejo

and Manta alone, cities in the Manabi province. Among the casualties was an Irish Catholic nun from Derry. Sister Clare Theresa Crockett died when a school run by the Home of the Mother order collapsed in Playa Prieta. In a statement, the order recalled a woman who used her life to benefit others. “Sister Clare had spent nearly 15 years of her life in consecration to the Lord. She was a generous Sister with a special gift for reaching out to children and young people,” it said. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, Ecuador declared a state of emergency, with 13,500 police and military personnel mobilised, including the national guard. Among these was Jhon Efraín Bailón, a volunteer firefighter in the city of Manta. When the earthquake hit, Jhon got his gear and went to work. “The first rescue was about three blocks from my job – we rescued a little girl only to get a call that our station was being looted,” he told the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). “I raced over there and the police had already arrived, so I went to the Lun Fung Hotel and managed to recover a body while performing search and rescue with other firefighters. We also saved two more people who were trapped, and then went to the Umiña hotel to work until sunrise.” Around 29,000 people lost their homes, forced to sleep rough or in shelters. “Because of the emergency, all the neighbours walked up to the higher parts of Chamanga. When we first arrived at the shelter there were 120 families, including children, adults, persons with disabilities and older persons. But many then left with family members or friends, so we are among the 95 families left,” said Nancy Muñoz, speaking to MSF personnel soon after the earthquake. “The children are very restless here. They want to return to their homes. A little three-year-old girl asked me one day, ‘Why did this happen? Why was my house damaged? I want to go to heaven.’ These thoughts bring tears to our eyes, and I think we are in need of a lot of mental healthcare here.”

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FEET ON THE GROUND Voluntary organisations including the Ecuadorian Red Cross have worked tirelessly to help the thousands of families displaced by the disaster, providing medical care, disease prevention, psychosocial support, water treatment and distribution systems, hygiene promotion and distributing essential items. An emergency appeal was launched by the IFRC seeking 18.4 million Swiss francs (around s17m) to support the Ecuadorian Red Cross over the next 12 months. “Once again our volunteers are bringing hope to those who are suffering. We must redouble our efforts to make sure people recover from this tragedy,” said IFRC President Tadateru Konoé while on a two-day trip to Ecuador. Help was also forthcoming from beyond Ecuador’s borders, and teams were supplemented by international humanitarian assistance, offering expert guidance, supplies and equipment. MSF teams provided medical and psychosocial care on the front lines, the Canadian government offered humanitarian assistance and deployed the Canadian Red Cross field hospital and the Canadian Disaster Assessment

A Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff member helps people build shelters on the affected island of Portete. Photo: Albert Masias/MSF

team, while teams from Europe arrived as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, initially aiding in search and rescue, and later in technical assessment. The UK has sent structural engineers and specialists in disaster management to help pave the way for recovery. “The UK has a proud record of offering and providing assistance when natural disasters strike around the world, and we’ll do all we can for the people of Ecuador in their hour of need,” said the then International Development

Secretary Justine Greening. Firefighters from Los Angeles were also among those to join the rescue efforts, joining a team deployed to Ecuador by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID airlifted tonnes of emergency relief items into the country, and also sent an 11-person earthquake response team to provide their expertise. Despite such coordinated efforts from national and international organisations, in the days after the earthquake there

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INTERNATIONAL FEATURE to when they can return to their homes, or if they can return at all. “My mum is also here with my children and my husband, and she suffers from high blood pressure. Ever since the earthquake, her blood pressure has been really high and it’s not even gone down with medication. When my children feel each new tremor, they become pale and frightened. “We feel a bit uncomfortable in the refuge because there are seven of us and we sleep on two mattresses. We only got lights two days ago; before that we were using candles. What’s more, the rain drenched us and the few possessions we have left,” explained Silvana Saltos, who was staying at the San Francisco del Cabo Shelter, Muisne. “We don’t know how long we’re going to stay here because it might still be dangerous to return to the island. The houses that have been left standing may well collapse. Sometimes, people say that a tsunami might happen, then they say it won’t. But in the meantime, the earth still keeps moving and shaking.”

STARTING OVER

Cristina Buixeres of MSF distributes hygiene and cooking kits to 52 families in the Alto del Portete shelter in Muisne. Photo: Albert Masias/MSF

were issues in distributing food and water across the country. In the more isolated settlements, those who have survived have faced struggles obtaining water, power and transport. A report in The Guardian noted that while the government quickly established supply bases and shelters in the main urban centres, there was difficulty reaching those living in more rural regions, with some people resorting to begging to survive. Others, meanwhile, face an uncertain future, unsure as

Now, the focus very much lies on rebuilding, as Ecuador’s citizens seek a return to normal life – schoolchildren have since returned to their studies. Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa has said that the damage could cost around $2-3 billion, and the country has enacted measures to raise a substantial line of credit. Taxes have been raised on the country’s more wealthy citizens, while Ecuador is also considering selling certain assets to help fund the recovery and reconstruction programme. Financial support to the tune of US$364m was approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July. In Pedernales, where around 80 per cent of buildings were destroyed by the earthquake, recovery is slow but sure, with some citizens returning to the city from shelters. “We are from Pedernales and that is where we have to stay. We will only go if the authorities ask us to leave the area, because if we have to be evacuated to another place we don’t have anywhere

to go,” 40-year-old Cusme, who lives in the Tamarindo neighbourhood, told MSF in the aftermath. “Now we have to learn to live with the aftershocks. Sometimes, because we’re still on edge, it still feels as though the floor is moving, even when it isn’t. We must learn to live with what happened to us.” According to the International Red Cross, a positive attitude has spread throughout the city. Traders set up shop along the streets, selling food, clothes and anything else they can, while people sweep the streets to keep them clean for visitors, and for themselves. People are ready to begin again. “Ecuador – and especially Pedernales – have taught us a lesson”, said the Ecuadorian Red Cross. “People are more resilient than we thought, some do not even want our help, what they want is for us to tell them how to be better prepared for next time.”

The International Charter on Space and Major Disasters was activated on April 17th by UNOSAT, which allowed for satellites to be used for damage assessment and land surveys through the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS). “According to our analyses, 1,790 buildings were affected by the earthquake, 110 of which are ‘critical facilities’ (educational, health or other important buildings). Finally, 558 landslides were detected by our partners from the British Geological Survey using data provided by UNOSAT. This information is made available for the recovery efforts to rebuild after the earthquake, thus helping to bridge the data gap from emergency situation to reconstruction,” said Wendy Verónica Santos Saavedra, National Secretariat for Planning and Development, Ecuador.

EYE IN THE SKY

Large parts of the nearby town of Pedernales, only 35km from the epicentre, have been destroyed, with people losing homes, businesses and family members.

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ALL IRELAND FIRE SERVICES GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 sponsored by Dublin Fire Brigade Sports and Social Club Castleknock Golf Club | 7th September 2016 | 09:30 – 13-:00

4 PERSON TEAM Open to all Fire Services | Open to all serving and retired Open to all golfers good and bad GUI and non GUI welcome €180 per team REDUCED PRICE FOR DFB SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB MEMBERS) CONTACT: RAY CAMPION 0876538404 / raymondpcampion@gmail.com For all details and terms and conditions of the event please email or call the above contact. The event is a 4 person team with minimum of 2 GUI handicapped golfers. Teams will be split into pairs and scoring is based on stableford with 1 score to count from 1-16 and all scores to count on 17 & 18. GUI rules and regulations will apply for golf and all other decisions regarding the event will be decided by the organising committee. As this is a DFBSSC sponsored event there will be a reduced price of €10 per golfer for any member of Dublin Fire Brigade Sports and Social Club.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Emergency Services News From Around the Globe.

CANADA:

UK:

PARAMEDIC CHALLENGE Paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) are bidding to raise an impressive £70,000 to help save the life of one of their colleagues. Kathryn Osmond was initially diagnosed with stage 3c cancer, and has undergone significant treatment over the past five years, though the cancer has since spread. Given months to live unless she could begin a treatment known as tumour-infiltrating

lymphocytes (TILs), which has a response rate of 50 per cent, her colleagues began to raise the £70,000 necessary to pay for the treatment, which isn’t covered by the NHS, including completing the Running Man Challenge at the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. At time of press, their crowdfunding endeavour on JustGiving had raised almost £63,000. “Please help us to help one of our own!” urged SWASFT dispatcher Sharon Elsbury.

The Fort McMurray wildlife has been recognised as the most expensive insured natural disaster in Canadian history, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). The latest estimate of property damage stands at $3.58bn – twice the amount of the previous record. “This wildfire, and the damage it caused, is more alarming evidence

that extreme weather events have increased in both frequency and severity in Canada,” said Don Fogeron, President and CEO, IBC. “In recent times, wildfires and flooding have turned extreme and at times tragic. As a country we need to take a more disciplined and sustained approach to helping prepare Canadians for fires and floods.”

HONG KONG:

ENGLAND:

FAKE PARAMEDIC ARRESTED A man who walked into a charity shop in Bristol last June wearing high visibility gear and carrying a bag marked ‘Paramedic’, demanding to be registered as a volunteer, was arrested by police. Newspapers reported that the individual has a history of posing as a paramedic, including driving around in a car with a green light

FORT MCMURRY WILDFIRE PROVES COSTLY

on the roof, and was in possession of three knives when arrested, along with miscellaneous paramedic gear. According to the Bristol Post, the man told police that “I want to make sure I could feel competent to deal with scenes such as RTAs and RTCs. I’m not interested in someone who has sprained their ankle or has a blister.”

FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS REMEMBERED A day of remembrance has been held for two firefighters who lost their lives while battling a blaze at the Amoycan Industrial Centre in Ngau Tau Kok, an area of Hong Kong. Station officer Thomas Cheung and Samuel Hui were killed during the longest running fire in Hong Kong for over

two decades, which burned for 108 hours. The Hong Kong Free Press reports that the building, which was constructed 66 years ago, was exempt from the installation of a sprinkler system. Both men posthumously received the Gold Medal for Bravery for their actions. FIRECALL SUMMER

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

✶ TEXAS:

MOBILE HEALTHCARE The city of Dallas, Texas has come up with a novel way of reducing the strain on ER and hospital services. The Mobile Community Healthcare programme was introduced last year but is only beginning to pick up traction now. “In terms of revenue, I had hoped to be further along than this. But I think we’re on a good track right now, and really starting to show some good positive

improvements,” Assistant Chief Norman Seals told The Dallas Morning News. Basically, Dallas hospitals pay Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedics to visit ‘frequent flier’ patients. To cut down on expensive ambulance usage, paramedics visit patients using an ordinary Ford Escape SUV. Two deals with hospitals are already in place, with more said to be on the way.

SWITZERLAND:

TOURISTS QUENCH CATHEDRAL FIRE Tourists visiting the St. Gallen Cathedral in St Gallen, Switzerland, prevented a fire in the building from spreading by dousing it with holy water. According to The Local, the fire broke out in a confession box, believed to have been ignited by a candle inside the booth. The paper noted that

✶ GERMANY:

REINFORCED VEHICLES INTRODUCED New, heavy duty ambulances have been introduced in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein due to a rise in heavier and obese patients. The new vehicles will be safer both for the patients being transported, and the attending paramedics. Based on 7.5 tonne trucks, the ambulances feature lifting gates that can bear loads of up to 1.5 tonnes, and wider stretchers which can carry patients weighing up to 400kg. Otherwise, patient care remains the same. “We’ve noticed that many patients don’t weigh 75 kilos these days, but often

a lot more – that’s the basic reason we’ve chosen to get these heavy-duty vehicles,” said Christian Mandel, spokesperson with Schleswig-Holstein rescue services, speaking to TheLocal. de. It’s reported that two ambulances are currently on duty, with no plans to order more as of yet. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described obesity as one of the greatest public health challenges in the 21st century. Around 67 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women in Germany are considered to be overweight.

police believe the fire was started intentionally, causing thousands of francs worth of damage to the medieval artefact. The cathedral is part of a wider complex dating back to 719AD, said to have been established by an Irish monk, Gallus, a disciple and companion of Saint Columbanus.

USA:

FIREFIGHTERS UNDER PRESSURE

Over 3,000 firefighters are battling a large wildfire in California, known as the Sand Fire, which has consumed over 35,000 acres of land, with at least 10,000 homes evacuated (though most people have since been allowed to return). The blaze was said to have been started in brush following high temperatures. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has secured a grant from FEMA to ensure the availability of resources. Elsewhere, in Florida, firefighters and paramedics who attended the scene of the Pulse nightclub

shooting in Orlando have been provided with CISM support in the aftermath of the event. The shootings claimed the lives of 50 people and injured 53 others on June 12th, the worst mass shooting in US history. “Under the circumstances, they’re doing very well. It’s a healing process and everyone is recovering in their own way,” Orange County Fire Rescue wellness coordinator Lt. Anthony Willis told The Orlando Sentinel. “I’m proud to say our firefighters are resilient. I want the people in our community to be proud and let them know we’re ready to go back to work again.”

SUMMER 80 FIRECALL

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FUELLING TECHNOLOGY

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27/07/2016 12:17