Firecall Summer/Autumn 2019

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2019

FIRECALL OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DUBLIN FIRE, AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

INTERNATIONAL STATION PROFILE FIREFIGHTING IN HOBART, TASMANIA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST BUSHFIRE-PRONE REGIONS

TRAINING DAYS

DFB RECRUITS ON THEIR INTENSIVE TRAINING EXPERIENCE

Stress Management

THE NEW CISM TEAM

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DUBLIN FIRE RESCUE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE

PROTECTING THE CITY AND COUNTY SINCE 1862

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CONTENTS

04

31

DFB CYCLING CLUB CHARITY SPORTIVE

EDITOR’S LETTER

FOREWORD

05

DFBSSC UPDATES

DFB IN 11 BRIEF Family Fun Day

A new addition to the Cycling Ireland calendar

STARS AND STRIPES The DFB’s 4th of July visit to Southampton, New York

25

The Band in Belgium DFB Pipe Band Update

SUCCESS AT 35 THE SOCKIES

DFB’s social media wins again

15 WICKET GAME DFB Cricket match versus An Garda Síochána

30

28

RETIRED MEMBER ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES

36

TEE TIME

DFB Golf Society events

CONTENTS FIRECALL SUMMER/AUTUMN

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CONTENTS

54

Retired Members:

PETER “HEDDER” HEDDERMAN

38

STATION PROFILE

Thomas Curran and the Thompson Machine Gun

A ROAD WELL TRAVELLED

C Watch North Strand

The Sheelagh Finn Charity Cycle

HANGING UP HIS BOOTS Dublin GAA legend Gerry Hargan retires

65

DFB HISTORY

58

68

INTERNATIONAL NEWS GROWING THE STRESS MANAGEMENT TEAM DFB’s new CISM team

International STATION PROFILE Hobart, Tasmania

62 TRAVEL 74 Alternative ski destinations

43

TRAINING DAYS DFB recruits on their intensive training experience

BOOK SHELF 79

77

TECHNOLOGY The latest innovations for the emergency services.

CONTENTS 2

FIRECALL SUMMER/AUTUMN

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EDITOR’S LETTER Editor: Adam Hyland Consulting Editor: Dan Fynes Contributors: Mark Toner, John McNally, Las Fallon, Dan Fynes, Brendan Lodola, David Kavanagh, Ray McMonagle, Richard Murphy Creative Director: Jane Matthews Designer: James Moore Cover Credit: DFB Photography: Dublin Fire Brigade, Ray McMonagle, Trevor Hunt, Brendan Lodola, Adam Hyland, Las Fallon, SO John McNally, SO Joe Mangan, DO David Kavanagh, Andrew Emery, Warren Frey, iStock Production Executives: Claire Kiernan & Julie Dunne Publisher: Chesterfox Ltd, T/A Firecall Magazine, P.O. Box 6766, Dublin 2.

Tel: (01) 432 2200; Fax: (01) 6727100 Managing Director: Gerry Tynan Chairman: Diarmaid Lennon Distribution by: Magazine Mailing Ashville Media Group Unit 55, Park West Road, Park West, Dublin 12 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 necessarily those of the Editor or of the publisher.

Copyright ©2019 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 latest issue of Firecall, full of news and features from across Dublin Fire Brigade and beyond.

There has been a lot of activity over the course of the summer, and this issue has tried to capture just some of the events of note involving DFB members. The DFBSSC trip to Southampton, New York, to take part in the 4th of July parade (among other activities) was the major event of the summer, and all that transpired over what I’m told was a memorable few days is captured here.

Also making their mark abroad were the DFB Pipe Band, who took part in some very important and poignant commemorations, both for the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and for the fallen soldiers of World War 1. Mark Toner and S/O John McNally share their experience here.

It was great to meet some of the new recruits going through the first few weeks of training at the OBI to hear their thoughts on the courses they are undertaking, and I must thank them, and Course Director S/O Joe Mangan, for taking time out from their very busy schedules to talk to me.

It was also good to talk to Station Officer Andrew Emery of the Hobart Fire Department in Tasmania, and hear about their work in one of the most bushfire-prone areas of the world.

Thanks to C Watch at North Strand and S/O Ronan Magee for the visit to their station and for letting me attend their farewell to retiring FF/P and Dublin GAA legend Gerry Hargan, who was also kind enough to talk to me about his career on and off the field.

It was also a pleasure to talk to retired member Peter “Hedder” Hedderman, whose long and varied career makes for an interesting read.

I am again in debt to historian Las Fallon for his valuable contribution, as well as all other interviewees and contributors. Thanks to all who helped put this issue together.

I hope you enjoy the read,

Adam Hyland 4

EDITOR’S PICKS

STARS AND STRIPES

The DFB’s visit to Southampton, New York

43 TRAINING DAYS

DFB recruits on their intensive training experience

p INTERNATIONAL STATION PROFILE

Hobart Fire Department, Tasmania

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

FIRECALL SUMMER/AUTUMN

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FOREWORD

Honorary Secretary’s

FOREWORD elcome readers to our summer/autumn 2019 issue of Firecall, taking a look at recent events involving the Dublin Fire Brigade and our Sports and Social Club.

Our AGM was held recently, and you can find details of this and the new committee on our Club Updates page. I would like to thank everybody who has been involved on the committee to date for their contribution, and to welcome those newly appointed.

Our trip to visit the Southampton Fire Department in New York for the 4th of July celebrations was a huge success and a thoroughly enjoyable experience for all involved, and here we give just a taste of what went on. I must say thanks to everyone who made the trip possible and so enjoyable, and express my sincere gratitude to all at Southampton FD for making this a memorable trip.

As the following pages will show, the DFB is saying farewell to a lot of members who have recently retired, including S/O Ian Duffy, Maurice “Mossy” McCann, S/O Martin Guilfoyle, S/O Adrian Kelly, Paul Keane, Fran Moore, D/O Peter Barriscale, Paul Lennon, Tom Keane, Ian “Gucci” Murtagh, and All-Ireland winning Dublin star Gerry Hargan. On behalf of all DFB members, I wish them health and happiness in their retirement.

We were deeply saddened by the passing of several former DFB members recently, including D/O Michael Gray, Paul Knowles and Gerry Sweeney. Our thoughts go out to their families, as they do to the family of John Pender, a founder of the Suicide Or Survive charity, brother to Pipe Band member Stephen Pender, and a friend to the DFB. New recruits are currently undergoing their training at the OBI, and this issue looks at their experiences so far, while S/O Joe Mangan gives an overview of what is involved that might bring back some fond (and not so fond) memories. I look forward to reading about their further development in the next issue.

Also in this issue, we look back at the Family Fun Day (thanks to all who helped on the day), and C Watch North Strand are our profiled station.

Finally, our international profile is Hobart Fire Department, Tasmania, with S/O Andrew Emery talking about their role in keeping one of the most bushfire-prone regions of the world safe.

My thanks to him for his time, and to all who contributed to this issue.

DAN FYNES

A friendly reminder to order your new ID card by emailing idcards@dbfssc.ie with an attached headshot (on a neutral background), your name, pay number, station watch and location.

Save the Date The Kids Christmas Party will take place this year in the Castleknock Hotel on Sunday, 8 December

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2019

FIRECALL OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DUBLIN FIRE, AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

INTERNATIONAL STATION PROFILE FIREFIGHTING IN HOBART, TASMANIA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST BUSHFIRE-PRONE REGIONS

TRAINING DAYS

DFB RECRUITS ON THEIR INTENSIVE TRAINING EXPERIENCE

Stress Management

THE NEW CISM TEAM

Enjoy the read,

Dan Fynes

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FIRECALL SUMMER/AUTUMN

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SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB UPDATE We take a look at what’s upcoming for members of the Dublin Fire Brigade Sports and Social Club (DFBSSC).

STATION REPRESENTATIVES: NO. 1

Linda Scully (A Watch) Shane Tierney (D)

NO.2

Martin McCord (D) Alan Doyle (B)

NO.3

Ger Corcoran (C) Brian Gilbert (A)

NO.4

Deirdre Barry (C) Joe Moran (A)

NO.5

Kevin Conlan (B)

NO.6

Ger Ryan (A)

NO.7

Gary Mason (A) John Walsh (B)

NO.8

Dean Kelly (C)

NO.9

Neil Quinn (C)

NO.12

Ray Kenny (A) Stephen Breen (B)

NO.13

Mick Ratchford (C)

HQ

Alan Daly (A Watch)

SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB COMMITTEE 2019/2020 Our AGM was held on Wednesday, 28 August, at the Trinity City Hotel, with a new committee coming on board. Their main goals will be to modernise the Club Constitution, review the Grant Application Process, and develop a Sports Sub-Committee. Please feel free to contact your station representatives with any questions you have.

CLUB COMMITTEE

8

CHAIR

Declan Rice

TREASURER

Simon Finglas

HONORARY SECRETARY

Dan Fynes (HQ)

Sean McDomhnaill (B) Paul McCann (C) Siobhan Talbot (D)

RETAINED

Glen Fitzgerald (Balbriggan)

ERCC

Podge Thompson (D)

W/S & EMD

Paul O’Toole

OBI

Paul Greene

RMA

Frank Nugent Tommy Doyle

TRUSTEES

Willie O’Leary Dave Nee Tony Devoy

FIRECALL SUMMER/AUTUMN

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SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

UPCOMING CLUB EVENTS RETIRED MEMBER’S PARTY Last year’s retirement function at the Castleknock Hotel, at which 25 members were presented with a specially commissioned DFB statuette, proved to be a great success, and due to the number of retirements this year, it is anticipated that we will hold another retirement function in early 2020. This will be confirmed over the coming months.

RETIRED MEMBER’S NIGHTS OUT The Retired Members Association meets on the first Thursday of every month in Briody’s on Marlborough Street, and has had a number of group events recently.

For those recently retired club members considering joining the RMA, the DFBSSC will contribute the first year’s subscriptions on their behalf. If you wish to contact the RMA, you can reach them on Facebook or by email to: dfbretired@outlook.ie

WATCH SOCIAL NIGHTS Our Watch Social Nights at The Church on Mary Street continue, and are held on 7, 14, 21, 28 and 29 October. Hope to see you there!

SPORTS GRANTS Throughout the last year the DFBSSC has granted many applications for assistance towards the costs incurred in participating in and hosting sporting events for its members. The range of sponsored events is continuing to expand annually and the DFBSSC are proud to be able to assist where possible. We have focused on the social side of things in recent times and it is our aim for the next year to put the same effort into sporting events. This will be done by re-

establishing the above-mentioned sporting sub-committee.

SOCIAL GRANTS Over the last year, we have also provided grants to members for social events, separate from official club events. They have the same grant application criteria to adhere to, and all applications are taken on individual merit by the committee. The social subcommittee helps in organising and arranging social events/ functions.

In addition to events, it is also responsible for the organising of prizes for monthly draws.

OTHER GRANTS The DFBSSC also provides station improvement grants to help create a more homely environment in the workplace, and provides station social funds with loan interest grants, ensuring members only pay the sum of money borrowed, with the DFBSSC paying the interest on the loan.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Willie, Deco, Jim, Mark, Frodo, Robbie, Leon, Ray, Gerry: All will be fondly remembered. Our deceased members mass will take place this year on 10 November in St Saviour’s church on Dominic Street, followed by refreshments in the Teachers Club on Parnell Street. Over the last few years, the number of active members who attend this memorial has declined considerably, and this is something we’d like to improve.

KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY This year’s party will be held at the Castleknock Hotel on Sunday, 8 December. Expect the usual fun and food, with a special visit from Santa.

WEBSITE We have launched our website holding page (DFBSSC.ie) and have over 80% of our members signed up to our digital database. We have made some changes to ensure we are compliant with GDPR regulations.

We intend to have a fully functional website in the coming year, in addition to updating our enquiry and grant application process. We would like to have a gallery of previous events, functions and members on this site too, so if you have any content you feel might like to add, or if you have technical expertise and feel you could help, please contact a member of the committee.

FIRECALL All editions of Firecall, going forward, will be available online as well as some archived material from previous editions. The mail list is managed by Ashville Media Group; any change of address or additions to the mail list must be done by them.

You can contact them via email, adam.hyland@ashvillemediagroup.com

SOCIAL MEDIA We have established our social media sites @DFBSSC on Twitter and DFBSSC on Facebook, a closed member’s only page for Facebook that has grown to 450 members from 200 last year, and increased the number of followers on our public page to over 550. We will look to improve this in the upcoming year.

FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS Please email with your suggestions for social nights out, sporting events, or anything else. All are welcome to contribute, and no suggestions will be turned away.

Until next time, DFBSSC

SUMMER/AUTUMN 10 FIRECALL

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DFB IN BRIEF

DFB

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

Welcoming King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to the Mansion House as part of our first engagement with new Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe.

Skerries firefighters supporting the local Darkness Into Light walk for Pieta House in May.

Finglas C Watch were visited at the end of May by baby Willow Quinn and her parents after they helped her mother give birth in May.

17 firefighters from Finglas and Phibsboro attended a fire in a derelict building on St Margaret’s Road in May.

Kilbarrack firefighters live up to the stereotype by rescuing Daisy the cat from between two cavity blocks.

A car vs barrier collision near the Luas Kylemore stop in June, with crews from Tallaght and Dolphins Barn stations attending.

We said farewell to Ian Duffy, Station Officer D Watch Blanchardstown in May.

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DFB IN BRIEF

Last night of duty for Maurice “Mossy” McCann as he left D Watch HQ in June after joining in 1991 and serving across several stations before joining the Control Centre.

We were saddened to learn of the passing of retired DO Michael Gray, who had served the City and County of Dublin for 44 years.

The son of a Station Officer, he was born and raised in Dorset Street fire station and his daughter and son-in-law are both serving FF/Ps.

We said farewell to Sub Officer Martin Guilfoyle in Dún Laoghaire Fire Station after 31 years of service.

The turntable ladder from HQ was called in for a chimney fire on Wexford St in May.

Phibsboro firefighters testing a new water rescue sled capable of inflating in 40 seconds.

Congratulations to the DFB Rugby Team, who won the Shane McGinn charity tournament in Westmanstown at the end of June.

We said farewell to Sub Officer Adrian Kelly who was stationed in our Eastern Regional Control Centre. He joined Dublin Fire Brigade with the class of 1991 and was a firefighter in Phibsboro fire station before moving to our control and dispatch centre Our Hi-Line Rescue Technicians are undergoing in Tara St. refresher training at the Poolbeg towers.

Kilbarrack firefighters on a community visit to a local creche at the end of May.

We learned with great sadness of the passing of retired DFB member Paul Knowles in June, a member of the class of 1981 and stationed at C Watch in Phibsboro.

We honoured all serving, retired and deceased firefighters on International Firefighters Day on May 4.

Sub Officer Paul Stanley celebrated 30 years in the DFB in May with a cake.

The DFB soccer team claimed the top spot in the Civil Service 2019 League, defeating Ely Woodland on penalties in July.

We received three new fire engines at the end of April, destined for Swords, Rathfarnham and Finglas stations.

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DFB IN BRIEF

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@DubFireBrigade We said farewell to Firefighter Paramedic Paul Keane in Donnybrook fire station. Paul joined us in 1989, following his father & grandfather into the DFB.

Firefighters extinguish a children’s play area set alight in Coolock in May.

C Watch from HQ drilling on suction lifts at the Grand Canal basin in May.

Last turnout for our colleague Gerry Sweeney after he passed away. Gerry was escorted by firefighters from across the city and the DFB Pipe Band as we said goodbye in July.

D Watch Phibsboro said farewell to one of its original TV stars as FF/P Fran Moore retired after 34 years of service. Fran starred in the RTÉ One Documentary “D Watch” and joined DFB with the class of 1985.

DO Peter Barriscale takes his last parade in Phibsboro station after 37 years on C and D watches.

Last shift on duty for Firefighters Paul Lennon and Tom Keenan as they attended parade in Dun Laoghaire station after 62 years of service between them.

Donnybrook firefighters assisting gardaí with the recovery of property from the Dodder in May.

RTC training for Finglas B Watch in May.

Swiftwater rescue training on the Liffey in July.

A Kilbarrack crew at a car fire in the grounds of Belcamp College in May.

We said farewell to Ian “Gucci” Murtagh in Swords fire station, after 31 years serving on C Watch across range of stations.

FIRECALL SUMMER/AUTUMN

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FAMILY FUN DAY

Family Fun The annual day of family fun was a great success again, writes Dan Fynes.

O

ur annual Summer Fun Day and BBQ was once again held at the DFB Training Centre on Saturday, 31 August, with another great turnout of more than 400 people of all ages helping to make the most of the warm weather.

The food, prepared by Lisa in the OBI and finished and served

by Keith and Dave was, as always, great, and helped to keep the energy levels up for everyone to enjoy all that the day had to offer. A huge amount of thanks must go to the three of them for their hard work on the day.

The large number of DFB families present, and the range of fun activities on hand for everybody, from face painting and a petting zoo to bouncy castles, slides and football darts, made sure that the day was another great success. From the smiles on everybody’s faces, it looked like everybody had a great time.

Apart from a sudden downpour early on that saw everyone scampering for shelter in the tents and bouncy castles, while a quick-thinking DJ played Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, it turned out to be a lovely, sunny day, which helped to add to the great atmosphere.

This day would not be possible without the hard work of the committee in the lead up to the

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FAMILY FUN DAY event and on the day itself, as well as the cooperation of the staff at the DFB Training Centre.

I would like to thank T/O Brendan Carroll and all of the Training Centre Staff for granting us the use of the training centre facilities for this event, and for all of their assistance.

Many thanks must also go to the Dublin Civil Defence for allowing us to use their tents, and to their staff who take care of this aspect of the day, as well as all of the vendors and entertainers who helped make this such a success.

Of course, thanks must also go to all of our members, both serving and retired, for coming along on the day, and I hope next year’s event will be even better.

This event is just one of the many organised and supported by the Sports and Social Club throughout the year, and the input of all members is very welcome. If you have any suggestions as to how we can improve the day, please feel free to get in touch with a member of the committee through our website (dfbssc.ie) or via our social media pages.

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4TH JULY

The DFB and Southampton FD get ready to march in the 4th of July Parade.

STARS & STRIPES T The DFB’s 4th of July visit to Southampton, New York, was a huge success, writes Adam Hyland.

he time finally came in July for the Dublin Fire Brigade to fly out to the Hamptons in New York to celebrate the 4th of July with their US counterparts in the Southampton Fire Department. And what a trip it was.

The group for this much-anticipated trip consisted of 38 members.

“It was a very diverse group,” DFBSSC committee member and co-organiser S/O Declan Rice says.

“We opened it up to all DFBSSC members, and we had people from all ranks, from Assistant Chiefs John Keogh and Greg O’Dwyer all the way down to the newest FF/Ps coming into the job, so we had a great spread of ages, a great spread of stations represented, and everybody bonded really well.

“The possibility of the trip was first raised over a year ago, but when Southampton FD came over for St Patrick’s Day, we got to talk to them

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4TH JULY

The DFBSSC get ready to board the plane to the US.

in detail about it and saw that it could be a reality,” Declan says. “From that moment onwards, planning was non-stop.”

HOSPITALITY From the moment they landed until they got back on the plane home, the DFB group enjoyed amazing hospitality from their hosts – something everyone was eager to mention.

“The thing that stood out was that it wasn’t just the firefighters in Southampton who did everything for us and were extremely welcoming throughout the trip, it was their families too,” Declan says. “But also, the greater community of Southampton made us feel so welcome.”

This hospitality extended to a full itinerary of activities. Upon arrival on 3 July, the group was escorted by fire engines to their lodgings at Stony Brook College and then Southampton Fire Department to a rapturous welcome.

A sombre note was rung as the group honoured the memory of

Basking in the sun and warm welcome.

retired FF/P Gerry Sweeney, whose funeral was taking place back home.

A VALUABLE GIFT There were a few official greetings to be made, and formal presentations, including an Irish flag gifted to the DFB by Joe O’Dea and the Southampton Fire Department.

The flag, which Assistant Chief Fire

Assistant Chief Fire Officer John Keogh receives a plaque detailing the history of the Irish flag flown outside Southampton Fire Station.

Officer John Keogh received on behalf of the DFB, was first flown outside the old Hotel Commodore on 42nd Street in New York to greet Eamon De Valera on his State visit in 1948, and was flown every year on St Patrick’s Day thereafter.

Joe O’Dea’s father was a native of County Clare and followed the career of De Valera, who represented Clare

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4TH JULY

Southampton FD form an honour guard for the DFB.

It was great to have this amazing group come to our home so we could return the hospitality shown to us for two years in Dublin at St Patrick’s Day. I look forward to continuing the friendships that have been developed over the three trips” – Southampton FD Ex-Fire Chief Roy “Buddy” Wines

in the Dáil after 1916, and managed to purchase the flag in the 1970s when the hotel closed its doors, to honour his father’s memory. Proud of his Irish heritage, Joe O’Dea felt it would be fitting to give the flag to the DFB, in the hope they could give it a suitable home.

This was just one example of the incredible generosity and warmth of

the people the DFB met on this trip.

“I was honoured to receive the flag and framed document detailing its history,” A/C/F/O John Keogh says, “and to give assurances that it will hold pride of place in the DFB museum.”

He too was overwhelmed by the welcome received from the Southampton FD.

MEMORIES

Feeling right at home.

“If a group of Firefighters were ever made to feel like VIPs, then it was the 38 DFB personnel that went to Southampton. SFD had everything prepared and thought of. The whole town of Southampton put on a welcome worthy of the A-listers who live and visit there, and it was just for us! Not to mention the at-home feeling that came from the Irish contingency that moved there, lives there and got involved in SFD” – FF/P Peter O’Neill FIRECALL SUMMER/AUTUMN

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4TH JULY

“My abiding memory of the trip was the hospitality of our hosts,” he tells me. “Their generosity had no bounds.

We had a ball. Good company, good craic, and plenty of laughs.”

THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE The main event, of course, was the unforgettable 4th of July parade to celebrate American Independence Day. Because of his military background, Sub Officer Brian Gunning was tasked with organising the DFB’s role in the parade, at which they would march alongside the Southampton FD. “We are used to formal parades for things such as St Patrick’s Day and for funerals, but when we went over there it was less formal, and it suited the spirit of the occasion,” he tells me.

“We were marching in our uniforms, but that was the only formal part of the trip. There were so many people coming up to us and saying thanks for being there. At St Patrick’s Day, you have barriers all along, keeping people back, but there were no barriers at this, so it was really welcoming. For me, the highlight of the entire trip was the parade, it was a real eye opener.”

On top of that, DFB managed to win top prize in the Fire Department Marching Unit competition, outshining their hosts.

Meeting Matt Shimkus of the Southampton FD upon arrival.

FUN AND GAMES Apart from the parade, the trip also included many other events and outings to keep the group entertained.

“As a sports and social club, we wanted to make sure we took part in a range of activities,” S/O Rice tells me. This included a shooting competition, which the local police arranged at their training grounds, a sea swim relay competition, a softball competition, and the parade competition. “There was a lot on to keep us all occupied, and to have some friendly competition with our

Raising a glass.

hosts, and I’m happy to say we came out on top in most,” he adds.

“They did have a bit of an advantage in the softball, but it was the only competition that they won,” Declan says. “It’s good that they won something, so it wasn’t a whitewash.”

Among the activities were two golf outings, which Sub Officer Brian Gilbert recalls as his favourite

memories of the trip, and with good cause. He and the rest of a DFB team were brought to Southampton Golf Club for what was billed as a mini Ryder Cup, which the ‘European’ team won.

“It was great fun, and there was a fair bit of heckling and banter, gentle words in their ears – hope you don’t mess up this shot, and all that,” he

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4TH JULY

Displaying the DFB banner under the US and Irish flags.

I cannot express how grateful we are to the men and women of the Southampton Fire Department for their hospitality; it was beyond what we ever could have expected. I would like to express our sincere thanks to all who made it happen, and of course to Declan Rice and Simon Finglas for the months of planning and organising it took to get us there” – DFBSSC Secretary Dan Fynes

Getting ready for the mini Ryder Cup competition at Southampton Golf Club.

tells me. “That was a great day, and we are already talking about the rematch when they come over here next time.”

SHINNECOCK HILLS The golf didn’t end there for Sub Officer Gilbert though, as he was unexpectedly invited to play at the prestigious Shinnecock Hills course,

home of the 2018 US Open and a course where all of the world’s greats have played, courtesy of Chief Alfred (Alfie) Callahan, who is a member.

“Myself, Barry Wilde and Damien Nolan jumped at the chance – to play somewhere like that was an absolute dream because you just don’t get the chance to do that.

The three of us were like children jumping up and down.”

A shot he puts “down to luck” saw Brian land a par three on the notoriously difficult 11th hole, which he says he will remember forever,

MEMORIES

Teeing off at Shinnecock Hills.

“This past 4th of July, the Southampton Fire Department hosted the Dublin Fire Brigade’s visit to Southampton, NY. We take great pride in having been able to host the brigade and thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Southampton.

This recent trip furthered relationships between the two departments, but most importantly, strengthened friendships that I’m sure will last a lifetime” – Matt Shimkus, Southampton FD

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Gathering at Southampton FD.

but the experience of playing this course will stay with him too.

“Walking around the clubhouse, there were loads of photographs of golfing greats such as Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, and to be in the same locker rooms those people used was a great experience.

It was a real once in a lifetime opportunity. I’d like to thank the committee for organising the trip. Dan Fynes, Declan Rice and Simon Finglas organised everything so well. Thanks too to Jason Poremba, who brought us out to Southampton Golf Club, and to Alfie for bringing us to Shinnecock Hills.”

It wasn’t just those who walked in the same footsteps as Tiger Woods who enjoyed the trip.

“While a lot of planning was involved, there were a few surprises too,” S/O Rice tells me. The 4th of July parade itself was one of those surprises.

“Towards the end of their parade, they stood on each side of us and we marched through their ranks, with them saluting us as we marched through,” he

Getting ready for softball

says. “I have never seen it done before, and it was one of those memorable moments. It went down so well we are going to rob that idea off them and try to replicate it if we can when they next visit!”

Another surprise was a visit to a traditional American carnival on the invite of the nearby North Sea FD. Attractions at the carnival held as a charity fundraiser included a softball dunking pool, and when Assistant Chief

Fire Officer Greg O’Dwyer volunteered to sit in the dunking chair, everybody wanted to have a go, and helped raise a lot of money by buying more than a few shots.

“Fair play to Greg for doing that, and for the North Sea FD for bringing us down there,” Declan adds.

There was of course a fair amount of celebration and revelry involved. “Late finishes, let’s put it that way,” Declan says. “But our hosts were great in this

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4TH JULY

“When we learned that the Dublin Fire Brigade had made plans to venture to America, we were truly honoured to have them march alongside us. We can only hope that they were shown the hospitality that was so generously offered to us when we visited Dublin. It was obvious from the first steps taken at the parade that the Dublin Fire Brigade were definitely a fan favourite. We would like to thank all the members who took time to march in our 4th of July Parade, as it was truly a pleasure” – Robin Kampfs, Southampton FD

Dan Fynes and Declan Rice meet the American Bombshells.

At the North Sea FD charity carnival.

The welcome dinner at Southampton FD headquarters

Gathering in front of the fireworks at the North Sea carnival.

too, and always made sure that we all got home safe.”

“We will be hard-pushed to match them next year,” he adds. “They keep raising the bar.”

MORALE BOOSTER The trip was enormously successful, with every member who went echoing this sentiment, but it also underlines the importance of the DFBSSC’s work in providing an outlet for DFB members.

“There will be a lot of interest in the next trip because this one brought a lot of craic back to the job, and increased morale a lot,” Declan says. “Even for St Patrick’s Day next year, all of the members on the trip are now enthused to do more for people who come over, because they have seen the benefits of it from the other side.

“We are hoping to make a trip abroad every other year. We don’t want the craic to stop, we want to build it up, and trips like this really do help with that.”

MEMORIES

Assistant Chief Greg O’Dwyer gets into the dunk seat.

“As Firemen, we all see each other as brothers and sisters, but there was something special about you all. The butterflies were building as the five of us, myself, Buddy, Matt, John and Graham, were heading into the airport to pick you all up. Then when we got there it was like seeing family you haven’t seen in years. Everything we did here built life-long memories, and strengthened the bond of brotherhood we all know and love within the fire service. There may be many miles and a little pond separating us, but in our hearts, we will always be close, and will pick right up where we left off the next time we meet up.

Whether that be in one of our home countries, or if we unite elsewhere to continue making memories” – Michael Kampfs, Southampton FD

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26/08/2019 15:07

DFB PIPE BAND

The Band

IN BELGIUM Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band Secretary John McNally recounts a memorable and poignant trip to Belgium in May.

A

t the end of May 2019, the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band travelled to Belgium for a series of engagements. Each travelling member was looking forward to the event as this trip was the first one away for the band in more than four years.

Initial contacts were made between DFBPB Drummer Tom McLoughlin and Belgian firefighter Carl Verstrepen, and a short time

later, the DFB pipe band committee began planning the trip, booking flights, hotel rooms and transport.

At 5am on Tuesday, 28 May, 25 of us met at Dublin Airport, with the group comprised of 21 playing band members and a colour party made up of three student pipers and retired firefighter and DFB museum curator Paul Hand.

After a short flight, we touched down in Brussels Airport, where we met with some of Carl’s colleagues

The DFB Pipe Band at The Menin Gate, Ypres.

before we were quickly on our way to the beautiful town of Ghent, our base for the next few days.

We settled into our hotel, which was right in the square next to the beautiful 89-metre-tall Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, completed in 1569.

There was no time to waste as we needed to practice as a whole band, ensuring our instruments were both working and tuned after the flight.

Our unannounced practice in the square went down very well with locals and tourists alike, who seemed both surprised and delighted with the early afternoon impromptu entertainment.

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DFB PIPE BAND

Next we were all aboard our coach and heading into Brussels, where we stopped off for lunch before our first official engagement.

We travelled to the beautiful Brussels suburb of Uccle, to the official residence of the Irish Ambassador to Belgium, Helena Nolan.

Ambassador Nolan was hosting a dinner for the outgoing British Ambassador Alison Rose, and the DFB Pipe Band was invited to play at the event. The band played on the lawn and entertained the crowd of diplomats and ambassadors who really enjoyed the music. This was followed by a presentation to Ambassador Nolan of a letter from then-Dublin Lord Mayor Nial Ring, Dublin crystal from Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley, and crystal from the band itself.

Ambassador Nolan presented the band with a framed photo of the famous Belgian statue MannekenPis, wearing an Aran sweater Irish costume.

Following some light refreshments, the band headed back to Ghent and finished off the night with some ceol agus craic.

Early the next day, we were back on the coach for the hour-long trip to visit the scenic town of Bruges.

We took time for a canal boat tour with all 25 members on board, which is probably the best way to see and hear about the town and its history. Some of the more energetic members decided to climb the 83-metre Belfry of Bruges, while others relaxed in the sunshine enjoying the famous Belgian beer.

Then it was time to head back to base in Ghent and head out for dinner in the local Irish bar of Patrick Foley’s, where the band played a few tunes late into the night.

Following breakfast, the band loaded the coach with uniforms and instruments before setting off to our next stop, Flanders Field American Cemetery

DFBPB Secretary John McNally and Ambassador Helena Nolan making presentations.

Seeing Bruges by boat.

near Waregem. This cemetery contains the remains of 368 American soldiers who died, and commemorates 43 who are missing from battles at the location in the latter weeks of World War I, many in the last few days of the war.

The rows of marble white crosses are a stark reminder of the ultimate sacrifice theses very young men made in ‘the war to end all wars’.

Our next stop was at the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Mesen.

This is a beautiful war memorial

to the soldiers of the island of Ireland who died, were wounded, or are missing from World War I, during Ireland’s involvement in the conflict. A 34metre replica round tower stands tall there, and is made from the stone from a former British Army barracks in Tipperary and a work-house outside Mullingar.

The tower was unveiled on the afternoon of 11 November, 1998,

by President Mary McAleese, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, and King Albert II

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DFB PIPE BAND

DFBPB Piper Barney Mulhall laying a wreath at Menin Gate.

DFBPB Piper Paul McNally playing a lament at the Island of Ireland Peace Park.

of Belgium. Here, Piper Paul McNally played a lament while Barney Mulhall informed us about the history of the area and the Irish soldiers who died there.

We then headed off to the town of Ypres in West Flanders.

Following a short break for a quick tour and some refreshments, the band warmed up. To the delight of the large crowds gathered, the band played and marched through the famous Menin Gate in Ypres.

Menin Gate is a war memorial to the soldiers who were killed in the

Ypres Salient of World War I, and whose graves are unknown. The memorial marks the starting point for one of the main roads out of the town that led Allied soldiers to the front line. On behalf of the band and Dublin Fire Brigade, Piper Barney Mulhall laid a wreath at this iconic location.

The DFB Pipe Band were very grateful for the hospitality shown

by Carl and his colleagues during the trip, and we returned the favour in August when they came to Dublin to visit.

Tuning up in Ghent Square.

If you would like to join the band or have a chat about it, drop down to the OBI any Monday night from 1930hrs and give it a go! You don’t need any musical experience and we will provide the tuition and equipment.

Our door is always open to new members and past members also.

To get in touch with the band, contact any band member or email: dfbpbsec@gmail.com.

Yours in music, John McNally, Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band Secretary

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CRICKET

Cricket for Cancer founder and coordinator Louise O’Farrell (centre) with members of the Garda and DFB cricket teams and umpires from Chapelizod Cricket Club

WICKET GAME The charity DFB Cricket match versus An Garda Síochána was a great success, writes Richard Murphy.

T

he annual cricket match between the Dublin Fire Brigade and An Garda Síochána to decide who would claim the Frank O’Farrell Cup was played at the Civil Service Cricket Club in the Phoenix Park on Sunday, 30 July.

With the tournament running since 2011, a proper rivalry has emerged between the two frontline services, and on this occasion the spoils went to An Garda Siochana, who reclaimed the trophy after DFB’s win last year.

A very good crowd turned up for what was one part of a great family

day out, and even though we had a couple of rain showers, it didn’t dampen the enjoyment. Apart from the cricket, there was a BBQ, raffle, bar and lots of child-friendly activities. In particular, the Kinsealy Pet Stores petting zoo, as always, proved very popular with both kids and adults.

Although the Garda team won out with a score of 110 for seven, with DFB bowled out for 102, who won didn’t really matter in the end, as it was all played for a very good cause under the name of Cricket for Cancer.

The event helped to raise €3,700 for St Francis Hospice, with a cheque presented to the charity in July.

Many thanks to all who donated and all who took part, especially Gerry Corcoran and Ken Devine for their hard work on the day, and to the crew from North Strand D Watch for their help. Thanks too to DubCo and the DFB Sports and Social Club for their support, without which our event would not have been possible.

And congratulations to An Garda Siochana for their win. The DFB will be back next year to try to take the cup back. 2020 will be our club’s tenth anniversary, and we are looking forward to it already.

The organiser, Louise O’Farrell, established the annual memorial match to honour her late father, who passed away at St Francis Hospice in Raheny in 2010 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. A member of the DFB until his retirement, he was also a keen cricket fan.

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RETIRED MEMBERS

RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES The association for retired members of the DFB has a few dates for the diary, writes secretary Jim Dowling.

T

he Dublin Fire Brigade Retired Members Association continues to be a busy organisation, with a lot of social events added to the calendar.

Our social nights out take place on the first Thursday of every month, upstairs in Briody’s at 97 Marlborough Street, and all are welcome to come along. We encourage members and all retired firefighters to join us and share stories over the course of what is always a very enjoyable evening.

These events are a very good way to remain as active members of the association and to keep in touch with events and news from the DFB. We also have a trip to the Talbot Hotel organised for early September, which we are all looking forward to, and encourage all members to get in touch to find out more and to book a place.

Also in September, we will be attending the unveiling of a

commemorative plaque to all members of the emergency services at the Civic Centre on Ballyfermot Road on 28 September, following an invite from Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley.

The event will commence at 11am and is expected to conclude at around 1pm. Again, we would encourage all members to attend this unveiling, and in particular, if any retired members originally from the area could attend it would be greatly appreciated.

Our association aims to keep retired members in touch with their former colleagues, to keep everybody up to date on current events, and to actively stay involved with the DFB, so if you are a retired member, or know of one

These events are a very good way to remain as active members of the association and to keep in touch with events and news from the DFB

who would like to join us, please get in touch.

Similarly, if you have an event you would like to inform the association about, make sure to get in touch.

You can contact us by email at dfbretired@outlook.ie, phone us on 086 224 7519, or check out our Facebook page under the name Dublin Fire Brigade Retired Members Association, where you can keep tabs on everything the organisation has planned for the coming months.

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05/09/2019 15:12

DFBCC SPORTIVE

DFB CYCLING CLUB CHARITY SPORTIVE The cyclists gather at the OBI.

Firefighter Liz Hanley, BTO Brendan Carroll, Lord Mayor Cllr Nial Ring, SO Brendan Lodola and Assistant CFO John Keogh with the cheque.

The DFBCC event for prostate cancer joins the Cycling Ireland calendar, writes Brendan Lodola.

D

ublin Fire Brigade Cycling Club has held a number of great events over the years, both at home and abroad. The new committee elected in June 2018 has been actively promoting the DFBCC through station visits, information evenings, a beginner’s programme and training days throughout the year.

Initial efforts have already seen an increase in numbers to 115 from a starting point of 68 in June 2018.

A calendar of events was planned for 2019 with an emphasis on improving the health and well-being of our members, and to encourage inclusivity amongst our colleagues,

and I thought it would be a good idea to have our own Dublin Fire Brigade Cycling Club sportive, registered with Cycling Ireland, which would hopefully become an annual event on their calendar as well as our own. We set a date for 12 May, 2019, and little did we know the amount of preparation that was needed to get this event off the ground.

The hard work started in October 2018 with route planning, risk assessments, event safety statements, management plans, applications, insurance, indemnity letters from the County Councils the route would touch on, event registration including online registration through

About to head off on the cycle.

Eventmaster and Stripe, finance, posters, signage, social media, press, and advertising.

We had great support from our families and volunteers to prepare the registration rooms and all of the other OBI facilities. With the pre-event risk assessment and route signage completed on the Thursday with the help of Joe Kiernan, Derek Walsh and Conor Keegan, and the OBI all set up on the Saturday, it was all systems go for the Sunday.

There was a great atmosphere that morning, with a constant flow of cyclists arriving, building up the anticipation for take-off at 10am.

Volunteers were everywhere, which

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DFBCC SPORTIVE

motorbike marshals, road captains, APs and the mobile service vehicle in order to keep the 240 cyclists safe.

Both the 50k and 115k routes took us through Portmarnock and Malahide to the first water/ food stop at Swords Fire Station. A big thank you to Greg, Richie and the rest of the lads on duty that day in Swords.

This is where both groups split up, with the 50k group heading back to the OBI via the Malahide road, while the 115k group headed out to the north county to tackle tough climbs through Ballyboughal, Naul, Bellewstown and Ardcath. The 115k food stop was a very welcome sight at the top of the difficult climb at Bellewstown racetrack. A big thanks to Fergus Byrne and his Civil Defence crew for feeding us and for all their help there.

The last two marshals, Mick Whelan and Dave O’Toole, travelled just ahead of the broom wagon with Stephen Dillon and Ian Kelly, as the last 50+ kilometres would bring us to the finish, taking us through Ardcath, Garristown, Killsalaghan to St Margaret’s and home to the OBI. A group including Ginks and Wally had the pleasure of the company of famous Irish cyclist and journalist Paul Kimmage (you might remember his pieces on Lance Armstrong regarding doping on the cycling professional circuit), on the back roads towards Garristown.

Dave Farrington and his crew of motorcyclists did a fantastic job up and down the route, and I also noticed the Cycle Super Store Mobile service vehicle stopping numerous times to fix bikes along the side of the road.

I didn’t realise how important this invaluable service would be on the day until I saw what they did. They set up a service station in the OBI for anyone with issues with their bikes before the event. On route, they must have stopped at least 20 times to repair bikes.

It was a tough day in the saddle, but for all those who completed the 50k Challenge and the longer 115k Challenge, there was the reward at

Some comments from participants posted on Cycling Ireland’s website: “Excellent event. Great road support from marshal vehicles, bikes, garda bikes and fire brigade vehicles”

FEEDBACK

was great to see. We had Liz Hanley with all her registration group, Dave Farrington and his motorbike marshal crew, the crew from C watch from No.4 station, all the road bike marshals from the cycling club, Derek Fox with his crew of APs, drivers for the support cars and appliances, static marshals for the roundabout junctions and food stops, and Mick Whelan doing his thing.

We had no idea of the kind of numbers who would turn up for the event, and were delighted to get a total of 260 registrations with 240 participating on the day.

The event was called “Staying In The Saddle For Prostate Cancer”.

With the number of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer growing each year, a lot of those within the DFB, we decided to give all the registration fees to two charities involved in the treatment of prostate cancer: Beaumont Hospital Foundation Rapid Prostate Clinic and Irish Cancer Society Action Prostate.

A total of €10,555.75 was raised and divided between both charities equally.

The cyclists were keen to get going, and after safety briefings, photos and speeches from myself, then Lord Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring, ACFO John Keogh and others, the Lord Mayor proudly launched the event.

With clear skies and the sound of the DFB pipe band in the air, Superintendent Brian Cullen and his Garda crew, together with the DFB lead vehicle, led us out. An Garda Siochana did a fantastic job of keeping the whole group safe with an escort from the OBI out to the coast road, around the hill of Howth and out towards Portmarnock.

A few at the lead were itching to get going to create a fast time for their 115k, but we had to keep the whole group safe over Howth Head and down to the village first, as the descent was so steep and locals were exiting Sunday mass.

The group then started to spread out and the sportive got into full swing for all the support vehicles,

“A very enjoyable experience. I would highly recommend taking part in this event next year” “Fantastic start with all riders leaving together.

Great escort by An Garda and the event marshals. Food excellent.

Great atmosphere.

Will definitely be back next year”

the finish line of a tasty meal from Stephen’s Fire House Pizza Ireland, who have been so generous to us over the years.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone from the DFBCC committee involved in organising this event, especially Liz Hanley, whose experience and hard work across all aspects of the event was invaluable, and on behalf of the DFBCC Committee to thank CFO Dennis Keeley who allowed us the use of all the DFB facilities.

Thanks to BTO Brendan Carroll for the use of the OBI, ACFO John Keogh, and Lord Mayor Nial Ring for their support. Thanks to everyone who registered to support both charities and all those volunteers involved, An Garda Siochana, Road marshals, Stephen O’Brien of Fire House Pizza Ireland, Paddy and John Leyden, Robbie Woodhouse and Jason from Cycle Super Store, Dubco, DFBSSC, DFB staff, drivers, Swords fire station B watch, and DFB pipe band members.

Thanks to everyone else involved, and a special thanks to the DFBSSC for their continued and valuable support.

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

CYCLE SUPERSTORE SUPPORTING THE SPORTIVE The bike store was on hand to help with bike maintenance at the Stay in the Saddle for Prostate Cancer event

T

he DFB’s Staying in the Saddle for Prostate Cancer sportive was assisted by Cycle Superstore, who provided mechanical support both before and during the event for participating cyclists on the day. The 100% Irish-owned business has been in operation in Dublin for more than 35 years, having started out in 1982 when founder Ray Fearon began carrying out repairs and trading in used bicycles out of his parents’ garage. He was soon joined by his brother Michael, and now they are the largest bicycle store in Ireland, with more than 40 staff, ten of whom work solely in the maintenance workshop, with several being Cytech Certified mechanics.

The store on Airton Road in Tallaght is open seven days a week. They are also official partners of both Cycling Ireland and Triathlon Ireland, and their experience and expertise proved very useful at this charity event run by the Dublin Fire Brigade, which they were only too happy to attend.

“We are involved with a local triathlon club called Pulse Triathlon Club, who who we sponsor, and one of their members, Liz O’Connor is a member of the DFB,” Marketing Manager Robbie Woodcock says. “She was on the organising committee for the event, and she approached us to get the ball rolling.

We jumped at the chance as soon as she offered it to us. We really wanted to be involved because it was for a very good cause. Obviously, cycling is very popular with men, but this was one of very few events on the calendar that had a direct link with men’s health and prostate cancer in particular.

Cycle Superstore is Ireland’s largest bike store.

“Of course, the DFB do sterling work too, and as soon as we heard they were involved, we knew we wanted to be a part of it, to bring as much as we could to the event to make sure that DFB benefitted from our being there.” Robbie and a colleague arrived at the OBI at 8am on the morning of 12 May and spent a couple of hours helping participants with punctures and “any other niggles with their bikes”, before they followed the cyclists on the journey in their van to carry out any on-the-spot maintenance and repairs when needed. “We were kept busy, but everybody was fantastic to deal with and we had a great day,” Robbie says. “At Cycle Superstore, we always try to get the message across that bike maintenance is key. A lot of problems people encounter on their bike can be fixed by basic maintenance, and you don’t need to know a lot to get by, but if you do need more complicated maintenance, we are there.” He continues: “We would be involved in a lot of sportives but I must say this one was run very well, one of the

Cycle Superstore provided repairs for participating cyclists.

best we have seen. Everybody we spoke to had such a great time on the day, and at the very end when the DFB fed us, everybody who sat down at the table couldn’t praise the event enough.

“I think as a sportive event it is going to grow and grow. We have our own cycling club (Tallaght Wheelers) in the shop, and everyone in it definitely wants to take part in it next year, because it is for a great cause and also because of the people who are running it. Of course, the good weather helped, but everyone was delighted, including us. It’s a great foundation for next year, and I think more and more people will sign up to it again. We are looking forward to helping the DFB with it in any way we can.”

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SOCIAL MEDIA

SUCCESS at the SOCKIES Sub Officer Darren O’Connor, FF/P Ray McMonagle and Assistant Chief Fire Officer Greg O’Dwyer with the three Sockies awards

DFB’s social media continues to win awards for its promotion of the Brigade, writes Ray McMonagle.

T

he ninth Social Media awards, affectionally known as ‘The Sockies’, were held on 25 July in Liberty Hall Theatre on Eden Quay. This was Dublin Fire Brigade’s fourth year to be nominated, and since DFB’s digital appearance in 2014 and first nomination in the 2016 awards, the Brigade’s social accounts have proven to hit the right formula and have been successful each year, emerging as winners in various categories.

Nominations involve a submission up to 1,000 words outlining why the Brigade’s account is the best in that category, its offering to the public, and its usefulness to the organisation.

This year, the Brigade was entered in three categories: Best Facebook for a State Organisation, Best Twitter for a Public Body, and Best Strategy for a Public Body. Other entrants included The Government Information Service (The Department of the Taoiseach), Houses of the Oireachtas, Irish Coast Guard and the Central Bank of Ireland.

The categories and their entrant’s submissions are scrutinised by judges: Peers and experts from the world of social media. There is no public vote.

Dublin Fire Brigade won in the Best Twitter for a Public Body, and Best Strategy for a Public Body categories.

The surprise on the night was the Grand Prix Award for Best Social Media of a Public Body, an award decided by judges which can’t be entered into by individual organisations.

Dublin Fire Brigade’s social following continues to grow, with more than 61,000 followers on Twitter and 32,000 followers on Facebook. Our Instagram

account is making strides to break the 10,000 mark very soon.

We are all aware that the administration team of the social accounts is small, but the wider team is every Firefighter/Paramedic and Officers of all ranks across the Brigade.

Social is our way of letting the public know what we do each and every day of the year. It is reliant on information coming back from not just incidents, but training scenarios, drills, community visits and station life. Behind the scenes posts continue to be the most popular posts amongst our followers: the gates may be down in front of our stations but we are still busy at work. It is important for us to disprove the stereotypes of the fire service and shape attitudes towards a value-for-money, modern and progressive Fire / EMS service.

The social strategy for the brigade is to Prevent, Inform and Promote: Preventing fires and incidents occurring in the first place, informing the public of incidents that may affect them, and promoting the work of the Brigade. This is why the social accounts are popular and provide a service to the public.

DFB’s presence in the mainstream media has increased significantly over the past number of years, and this is undeniably a consequence of us sharing our incidents, our stories, and our experiences to the public.

A social media support number is available, and is posted in each station, and most vehicles. We encourage you to take appropriate pictures at incidents, training or visits and send them on to us. It is as simple as taking a picture and sending a WhatsApp message. We make the decision to use the photo, with or without edits, so the responsibility is taken off the crew. DFB’s official social media is something that is supported by senior management; however, we would always recommend that you discuss this at station level with your Station Officer or District Officer. The support number is 087 607 9193.

Finally, we would like to thank all the contributors over the past year, and since 2014. Their foresight and positive attitude have made @dubfirebrigade the success it is.

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GOLF CLUB

Top scorers from the DFB V Dublin Bus challenge, Ali Collier and Lar Sweetman.

Captain Siobhan Talbot being presented with the Draeger Cup by Kerry McLaughlin of NIFS.

Tee Time DO David Kavanagh looks back over a summer of golf.

W

e have had a great few months of golf, with outings to Malahide Golf Club, our annual Draeger Cup match V NIFS, DFB V Dublin Bus and our Captain’s Day. This year, it was Dublin’s turn to host the Draeger Cup. The venue was Knightsbrook Golf Club in Trim. It was all to play for. We had 56 players from Dublin, and an impressive 42 travelling from Northern Ireland, with the top ten cards from each side to count.

It was a tough course and unfortunately, we had a couple of heavy showers. However, it was a very sporting and social day, with two

players from each team making up the fourballs. Dublin brought home the cup with a very healthy score of 452 points. We look forward to travelling North next year, and hopefully retaining the cup!

The annual DFB v Dublin Bus match took place on 15 July at Beech Park Golf Club, Rathcoole. The course was in excellent condition with very fast greens giving rise to a hardfought match. DFB were victorious on the day, with some great scores returned. The highest scoring duo on the day representing DFB were Ali Collier and Lar Sweetman. The match was followed by a meal in the club house and the presentation of the shield and prizes.

Our captain Siobhan Talbot’s day took place on 19 July in Corrstown Golf Club. The weather did not look to be on her side as Met Eireann had

Winner of the Captain’s Day golf tournament, FF/P Philip Keogh.

issued yellow weather warnings. We are led to believe that a lot of praying went on, and many Child of Prague statues put in windows, as we did not get a drop of rain! We had 66 players on the day, including visitors from Northern Ireland Fire Service and Siobhan’s home club.

The course was in excellent condition, with plenty of challenging holes. Congratulations to the winner on the day, Philip Keogh (A Watch No. 9), who shot an impressive score of 46 points. An excellent day of golf was finished off with dinner and presentations in the clubhouse.

A special thanks to our sponsors DFB Sports & Social Club and DUBCO, who help make our biggest day of the golfing calendar a success each year.

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STATION PROFILE

STATION PROFILE C WATCH NORTH STRAND

Pictured with the Sam Maguire cup are C Watch crew members Tommy Byrne, Ken Clarke, Enda Mckenna, Craig Sheridan, Pat Trapp, S/O Ronan Magee, D/O Noel Cunningham, Gerry Hargan, David Scully, Andrew Tobin, Declan Power, S/O Jeff Kennedy, Tom Larkin, Conor Carton, Simon King and Paul Moore.

THE CREW OF C WATCH IN NORTH STRAND TAKE TIME OUT TO TALK TO ADAM HYLAND ABOUT THE COMINGS AND GOINGS AT THEIR STATION.

T

here was a buzz around North Strand fire station when I went to visit C Watch on a sunny July day. Acting Assistant Chief John Keogh and Third Officer Brendan McNicholas had both come to the station and were talking to S/O Ronan Magee and D/O Noel Cunningham, preparing to give a send-off to FF/P and former Dublin GAA star Gerry Hargan after his 34 years of service with the DFB. Other FF/Ps were bustling around in anticipation, giving a sense that everybody here has a deep respect for the senior members, and for all the crew.

North Strand is an old station, built in the early 1970s to replace Buckingham Street and has hardly changed since then, and while senior members have served here for many years, the demographic at C Watch is changing,

with a lot of fresh blood introduced.

That’s noticeable when the crew and other visiting FF/Ps gather to bid a fond farewell to Gerry.

S/O Ronan Magee, who has been with North Strand C Watch for four years following many more as S/O across many stations and watches, agrees.

CHANGES “We are fortunate to have a crew with a varied range of service and experience,” he tells me. “Unfortunately, in the recent past we have lost some very senior members of the crew through retirement, and this has been a significant loss to both the watch and to the DFB. Newer staff have brought with them a broad skillset acquired from recruit training. This technical knowledge has enabled them to develop aptitudes in firefighting that can only be cultivated with practical experience. It

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STATION PROFILE takes time for newer staff to get into the culture of the station, but I find more experienced staff are always helpful in getting them familiar with how things work.”

As a result, the camaraderie is very good, and a lot of that is down to the crew being able to work well together and share experiences in a collaborative and informative manner. This casual engagement provides a platform for tacit information sharing, which S/O Magee tells me is an area he is very interested in and is a well studied means of learning.

“Storytelling – anecdotal storytelling – about incidents or call outs, is a very worthwhile way to pass on information, and thus aid learning,” he says. “So, whilst camaraderie and teamwork are core values we are proud of, they serve another function in the educational field, even if the crew might not realise it.”

CHALLENGES Teamwork is a necessity in a station whose operational district covers a wide geographical area reaching from the north inner city to Howth and the southern borders of north county Dublin, and the North Strand crews also works closely with its neighbouring Delta District crew based in Kilbarrack Fire Station.

C Watch’s 15-strong crew is equipped with two water tenders, an ambulance and the Tunnel Response vehicle.

“The Tunnel Response vehicle definitely brings in extra responsibility for the station,” S/O Magee tells me, “and the area we cover includes sites that present significant risks. The Port Tunnel is one, but there is also Dublin Port, Croke Park, and the 3 Arena to

name a few. We dedicate a significant portion of training time preparing to deal with incidents at these locations.

“We conduct familiarization visits to Croke Park in advance of major events. For the Port Tunnel, we train in a cooperative manner with organisations that oversee the operation of the tunnel and conduct frequent exercises to ensure we are prepared for any emergencies.

Almost all crew members are trained up to turn out on the tunnel response vehicle, whilst a couple of the more recent recruits are awaiting training to bring them up to speed.

“We also spend a significant amount of time training and preparing for incidents at Dublin Port. The effective management of such incidents requires a specific skillset that includes specialist knowledge of its unique water distribution systems and the dedicated appliances assigned to deal with incidents there.

“When it comes to operational readiness,” he adds, “we have to pay tribute to the C Watch crew for their enthusiasm in training and their willingness to keep themselves up to date with new and existing skills.

The risk profile of the area provides challenges in maintaining operational readiness, but my fellow officers and firefighters make it an enjoyable station to work in.”

TRAINING D/O Noel Cunningham talks about the same challenges and risk areas around the station’s location.

“Dublin Port is definitely the biggest risk for us,” he agrees. “We have oil and chemical plants, so if anything goes

There have been a lot of younger recruits coming into this station over the last few years as older firefighters retire, so the demographic has definitely changed.

wrong, we need to be prepared to deal with that. We have to be ready for any incident so we have predesignated routines.”

As mentioned by CFO Dennis Keeley in our last issue, the DFB are looking into the possibility of building a new station at North Strand, but this may take time, and for now C Watch works well with the current facilities.

“We are in a fluid position at the moment because we don’t yet know what will happen regarding a new station,” D/O Cunningham says, “so we have to adapt to that. We don’t have training facilities here, but we are very near the OBI, so we can avail of a lot of their facilities.”

He also comments on the fact that these are not the only changes the station is seeing, reflecting on the demographics of the personnel too.

“There have been a lot of younger recruits coming into this station as older firefighters retire, so the demographic has definitely changed,” he tells me, “and that represents its own challenges, because they don’t have that on the ground experience, but we compensate for that by conducting a lot of training exercises, while we also transfer them up to Kilbarrack to get them skilled up there.

“At the end of the day though, we are here to serve the people of Dublin, like every other DFB member, and C Watch at North Strand do it very well.”

Talking to some of the younger crew members after the presentation to Gerry Hargan, it is obvious that they get on very well, and are fully appreciative of the fact that they are able to avail of the experience of more senior members.

“We are all sad to see Gerry Hargan go,” FF/Ps Enda McKenna, Pat Trapp and Tom Larkin tell me, “and we’ve lost other senior men over the last few years - a former colleague, Jim Byrne, passed away last year just after retirement, which was very sad - so the watch is changing with a lot of new blood coming in, but it is all very positive, the atmosphere is always good.

“We have a great crew, and we have a very good reputation. It’s a great place to work.”

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GERRY HARGAN

Gerry Hargan with the Sam Maguire cup at his send-off at North Strand Fire Station.

An All-Star

DFB MEMBER Colleagues past and present gathered to wish the All-Ireland-winning Dublin GAA star the best in his retirement.

F

F/P and former Dublin GAA star Gerry Hargan was given a fitting farewell in July as he prepared for retirement.

His crew from C Watch at North Strand station were joined by other FF/Ps, Assistant Chief Fire Officer John Keogh, D/O Noel Cunningham, S/O Ronan Magee and other officers to bid him farewell and praise his 34-year career.

He was a member of the first class to graduate from the OBI, in 1985, and worked at Tara Street and Phibsboro

before moving to Finglas station. “The S/O told me to go to Finglas for a shift, and 23 years later I was still there,” he tells me.

Gerry was well-known to DFB members before he joined, having been a member of the Dublin GAA team since 1982. He won two Dublin club championships with Ballymun Kickhams, and with Dublin won six Leinster titles, the National Football League title, and the 1983 All-Ireland Final, when he was one of the “12 apostles” left on the pitch against

Galway after three teammates had been sent off.

Gerry also captained the Dublin team in 1988, received two All-Stars, and represented Ireland in their victorious compromised rules series against Australia in 1986, eventually retiring from the game in 1992.

His career with the DFB, however, continued. After Finglas, he moved to North Strand, where he remained for another 12 years. It was here that his colleagues gathered to show their respect.

Addressing the crew members, S/O Ronan Magee said: “It’s not always the vocal members who are respected by their peers. It’s also the ones who go above and beyond in a quiet manner, and Gerry is one of them.”

D/O Noel Cunningham said that “Gerry is an example to all younger firefighters of how to work as a firefighter,” before he brought out a “special visitor” in the form of the Sam Maguire.

“They surprised me with that,” Gerry tells me. “I was taken aback when they told me they had a friend visiting, I didn’t know what they were talking about, and then they brought out the cup. It was a very thoughtful gesture.”

Assistant C/F/O John Keogh also praised Gerry’s exemplary service, saying: “Gerry was a true professional who always gave 100%. If anyone in the DFB is held in the same regard as Gerry, they will have done very well.”

He then presented Gerry with a plaque to honour his service on behalf of everybody in the DFB. Speaking a couple of weeks later, Gerry told me: “It was the right time for me to go and start a new chapter. I’m also looking forward to no more shift or night work!”

He now plans to devote his time to coaching at Na Fianna, where his daughter plays, but going back to his send-off, Gerry says: “It was emotional, but I felt it was the right time for me to say goodbye.

“But I represented Dublin, Leinster, Ireland and the DFB. That’s a nice achievement to have.”

His colleagues in the DFB would definitely agree.

SUMMER/AUTUMN 40 FIRECALL

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RECRUIT TRAINING

Class 1/2019 on their first day at the OBI Training Centre.

CLASS ACTION In the first of a series, we take a look at how the Class 1/2019 recruits are getting on as they reach the halfway point of their training, by Adam Hyland.

W

hether it’s a recent or a long-forgotten memory, all members of the Dublin Fire Brigade have had to go through recruit training before they become fully-fledged professional firefighters, and Class 1/2019 were being put through their paces throughout the summer.

On June 10, 36 recruits gathered at the OBI Training Centre to start an intensive 15-week course, before they move on to either their paramedic

training, or join a crew of one of the stations across Dublin or other regions of the country.

“They are going well so far,” Course Director A/D/O Joe Mangan told me when we met at the end of June, when the class had been put through three weeks of basic training and had begun to move on to specialist courses. “They started off as 36 individuals, but they are gelling well as a class, and there seems to be a good camaraderie between them all, both at syndicate and group level.”

From the outset, the idea that they needed to work together as a unit was emphasised. “We told them on day one that to get through this you are going to have to be there for each other, it’s all about teamwork,” A/D/O Mangan says.

The class was divided into three groups of 12, with each group undergoing specialist courses at different times according to a preplanned schedule. By the end of July, Group 1 had done their practical firefighting and BA courses, Group 2 had done practical and RTC, and had just started their BA course, and Group 3 had completed their practical, pump and EFR, and were about to start their RTC training.

“They are all at different stages, but by the end of the training, each group will have done exactly the same and be trained to the same level,” A/D/O Mangan adds.

In order to bring a certain level of experience into the mix, the number of retained firefighters from other regions within the class have been divided as evenly as possible between the groups. The class is further divided into six syndicates of six, again with the aim to share experience amongst each.

“That helps the groups out in terms of the support they can provide to

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RECRUIT TRAINING

each other,” A/D/O Mangan says.

“Obviously, the instructor leads the group, but it’s good to have that bit of experience in some of the class, because they can share it with others.

You can see the leaders coming out in the groups.”

Overseen by Brigade Training Officer Brendan Carroll and Assistant Brigade Training Officer Frank Kiernan, who are ultimately responsible for all training, apart from Course Director Mangan and Assistant Course Director Cormac Cahill, there are six syndicate officers throughout the basic training who also assist on or instruct on those courses. These are S/Off Nicky Farrell, S/Off Jim Doyle, S/Off Paul Daffy, S/Off Niall Grant, S/Off Keith Markey, S/Off Eugene Maher, A/S/ Off Kevin Maypother and A/S/ Off Paul Green, while a number of specialist instructors are also brought in for each course.

“We are very lucky that we have great instructors, both for basics and specialists, who bring a lot of experience in operations to the OBI, and that experience and expertise as instructors is paramount in getting the recruits across the line,” A/D/O Mangan says. “It all filters down. It’s important to start right.

“The GO, A/S/Off Kevin Maypother, is key as well,” A/D/O Mangan adds. “He is the link in case there are any issues. Touch wood, though, there haven’t been any issues in this class. They have gelled very well as a group. It’s baby steps at the start, but once you get them going, you gradually increase the pressure and build from there. It’s an ongoing process.”

TEAMWORK That idea of working together is essential.

“The ethos of the fire brigade is teamwork,” A/D/O Mangan says.

“We remind the class from the outset that we are in the business of saving lives and property, and rendering humanitarian services. An individual

A recurit group training with 10.5m ladder.

can’t do that, you have to work as a team, now as recruits, and then when they go operational at a station.”

Discipline is also key, with the recruits performing marching exercises every morning under the supervision of A/S/Off Green.

“Marching instils discipline and they have to work together as a class to make sure it looks right,” A/D/O Mangan tells me. “During training they also have inspections to make sure the recruits and their environment are in proper shape.

“The training instils the idea in them that when they do go out to work at a station, if they are told to do something, they do it.”

In talking to some of the recruit class, the majority agreed that although all of the courses presented challenges, BA was the toughest for those who had already done it, and was the one most who hadn’t were apprehensive about.

“To an extent, BA is the toughest, and you can see in the groups that they are looking at the schedule and seeing when they are doing it,” A/D/O Mangan says, but he also stresses the importance of getting through the basic training successfully first. “The

Course Director A/D/O Joe Mangan.

recruits do need to get the basics right before they can move on to other skills,” he says, “because if they don’t master the skills in the basic training, they are going to be behind in the likes of BA. Some of them at the start struggled with fitness, as always happens, but they all got through it and none of them complained.

They have all been willing to put the effort in.

“Physically the RTC is a tough course, because you are lifting heavy tools constantly and carrying different parts of cars, vans, etc, so it is full throttle once they get going. They are all tough courses in their own way, but they get through it, and a lot of that is down to the instructors and the

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RECRUIT TRAINING way they explain and teach it.

“Yes, the BA course is tough, the RTC course is tough, but some people might struggle in one and excel in another. By the end of September, they will all have made the competencies in each category and will leave here proficient firefighters, which is the goal.”

LIFELONG LEARNING Once they do finish their specialist courses, focus will turn to preparing for pass out in mid-September. That, however, will not be the end of the training required, with learning now being an ongoing process.

“For the majority of them, it’s back to the OBI to start their paramedic course, which will finish in the weeks leading up to Christmas,” A/D/O Mangan says. “A number of them will go operational in September after pass out, but most will go straight into the paramedic training. So, they still have a long road ahead of them.

“Even when they go operational, they still have to gain experience.

The learning never stops. They have to get through their probation period, need to knuckle down when they get assigned to a station. They will have learned a lot from their training, but they will learn tonnes more operationally from the firefighters and officers at their station.

“Every day is a learning day, every day they are progressing, right through their training, and each day they are gaining another element of the skills needed that will turn them into a fully-fledged professional firefighter. Even the firefighters already in the job, with ten, 20 years of experience, are learning. This class will leave here as professional firefighters, but every day will give them a chance to learn skills and knowledge that they can bring forward to the next incident they are called out to.”

THE RECRUITS But what do the recruits think of their training so far, and how did

Training on the RTC course.

they find starting out on their careers as full-time firefighters? Some of the class volunteered to share their thoughts.

Keith Russell has been a retained firefighter in Navan, Co Meath, for 11 years, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather before him. He tells me that a career in the DFB was always a major interest for him. “There’s a big difference between the retained life and the full-time life,” he says, “but there are many more opportunities working in the DFB, for example training as a paramedic, which you wouldn’t have in the Meath Fire Service.”

I ask him what his first impressions were, when he started his first day,

and in the weeks that followed.

“The first couple of days were a bit of an eye-opener,” he tells me.

“There was a lot of introductions and explaining what we would be doing, but by the Thursday of the first week we were rolling hose, and the next day we were on the monkey puzzle, so the legs were fairly tired after that.

“From then on we went into basic training. The first three weeks were full on for everybody, before we split into groups for the specialist courses.”

Keith’s group had by the end of July completed the practical firemanship, pump and EFR courses. “I had never done a pump

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RECRUIT TRAINING

training course before,” he says. “I had used them in the old job, but I’d never done the course. I found that really good, really beneficial and very interesting as well. The new recruits probably won’t be doing that in the job for a while, but at least we know that, just in case, if we pull up at a scene and the SO lets a roar at you, you can do it.

“We learned a little bit more about the stuff we would have done in basic training and got to hone our skills in the practical course. Then we did EFR. And this week we started RTC training. There’s a fair bit of sweating involved in it, but it is really enjoyable.”

The BA course is yet to come for Keith. “My group will be the last one to do that,” he says, “but we are hearing all of the stories from the other lads, there’s a lot of war stories coming back.”

For Keith, remaining on top of everything he has learned is one of the challenges.

“The exams are every week, so it’s a challenge to make sure you know what you are supposed to know, when you’re meant to know it,” he says. “The instructors are 100%, but obviously there is a lot of hard work involved, with plenty of aches and pains. My knees were in tatters after the first three weeks, but you just get on with it, take it on the chin and go again.”

The camaraderie that A/D/O Mangan says is so important is something Keith feels is very helpful for the entire class. “My Navan accent means I get a lot of banter,” he admits, “but there is good craic. As with anywhere, lads can have different strengths and weaknesses, but we are trained to help each other out. If you know something you pass it on, and if someone else knows something they pass it on.”

Keith is also very pleased with the training schedule overall. “The training is good because it is planned out very well. You have your day set,

you know you will be coming in and doing X, Y and Z, and you know you have to perform. We know what we will be doing in the next few weeks as well, so you can look forward to each part of the training, or if there is something you’ve done already, you can tick it off the list.

“I’m enjoying the RTC course,” he adds. “There’s a great bunch of instructors there, very knowledgeable and eager to help us out. I’m looking forward to the BA course too. I know it will be hard, but at the end of the day, that’s a major part of the job.”

Overall, he feels lucky to have been given the chance to join the DFB. “The opportunities this job gives you, you don’t get anything like this anywhere else, and I don’t even know half of what is still to come.

“Once you get in, you have to grasp it. I heard it described as if you get in here, it’s like winning the lotto. You have to put the work in, obviously, but I plan to be in the DFB for as long as possible.”

Ross Bell is also a retained firefighter, from Co Louth, and plans to go full-time in either Dundalk or Drogheda when he completes his

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coming out of this at the top of our game.”

Ross has so far completed the firemanship, EFR and pump courses, with his syndicate also starting on RTC. “BA, Swift Water and HazMat are still to come, so we will be flying by the end of the course,” he says.

“There’s some exciting stuff ahead, and I hope to hit the ground running after those.”

He found that his group’s schedule allowed him to gradually settle into the course. “The RTC course we are doing now is very hands-on,” he admits, “but relatively speaking, we had the easier stuff first, with the pump and the EFR, giving us a sort of slow pace, while other groups were running around doing the BA stuff.

Now, with the RTC, it is heating up, but it’s very good.”

He too finds that the atmosphere generated in the class is very helpful.

“All the lads in the class are brilliant, and the lads you meet here, you will be going for pints with them for the next 30 years… hopefully,” he says.

“But there is definitely a brotherhood to the DFB, and to the fire service in general. There wouldn’t be too many professions who can say that.”

“I had been looking forward to this for a few years, and I’m really enjoying it.”

BA training is intensive and hard work.

TOUGHING IT OUT training. He too got a very good first impression of the OBI. “It was brilliant. It’s some set-up here, the training facilities are excellent, top-notch, as are all the instructors, who really know their stuff,” he tells me.

“The training standards are really high. I’ve done all of the courses before in order to work with Louth fire service, but there are a lot of differences and this is brilliant because it polishes up what I have done previously, and also helps me to get rid of any bad habits I picked up over the years. We will all be

Darren Donnelly from Dublin came into training for the DFB after several years in the Civil Defence, then three years in the Navy before transferring to the Army.

“My interest in the job built up after I did a lot of drills in the Civil Defence and Army, and saw what the DFB were doing. I knew that was what I wanted to be doing. There’s no job like it,” he tells me.

For him, the start of training was also “a bit of an eye opener” he admits. “That first Thursday when we were rolling out the hose, I was thinking, oh my god, I have six months left of this, but you

grow into it, and there is a really good environment.”

Darren’s group has completed the practical and RTC courses so far, and has just started the BA course when we talk. “The RTC course was great, and I really enjoyed it,” he says. “The BA course is very tough, but it’s also enjoyable. It’s good to be doing that first bit of firemanship that you will be putting to use when you get out there into the job.

“The group who did BA before us were telling us all the horror stories, but you just have to let that go over your head and get on with it.

When you do it, there’s a great sense of achievement.

“After this we have the pump course, HazMat and Swift Water.

Hopefully it winds down after that.

Then we can start getting ready for the passing out parade.”

He also praises the positive atmosphere. “All 36 of us get on really well. That helps us get through it, which is important, because, for example with the BA, you have to be comfortable with the people you are working with, and they have to be at ease knowing that you are beside them.”

Domhnall Mac Donnacha has been a retained firefighter in Carraroe in Connemara for three years, and will be joining the full-time service in Galway City when he completes training at the OBI. Because he had already done some of the courses to work in Carraroe, he feels that he was perhaps a little more relaxed about what awaited him, but was immediately impressed by what was on offer.

“The first few weeks went very well,” he says. “As an organisation, it is very well run. The facilities are great, second to none.”

Domhnall’s group has by now completed the initial training and RTC, and has started the BA course, both of which have been enjoyable.

“It’s hard work, especially with the weather we are having,” he tells me.

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RFF Keith Russell.

RFF Darren Donnelly.

RFF Michael Kiernan.

RFF Domhnall Mac Donnacha, Galway.

RFF Ross Bell, Louth.

“It’s our first week doing BA, so we haven’t been pushed too much, but you definitely have to be switched on for it. The RTC course was quite arduous too, because you are carrying and using heavy tools, you are in the full PPE the whole time.

“I’m a big fan of the BA, I really enjoy it, but I have to say the RTC course was very well run. There was no lack of cars to cut up. That was very good.”

As with the others, he feels that the atmosphere helps make the training go that much easier. “The lads are pulling together very well,” he says.

“Everyone is paddling the same boat.

There’s nobody put out.”

He particularly relishes the different challenges each day brings, even if they are tough. “I wouldn’t say anything gets easier or harder, you just have to recalibrate the way you are thinking,” he tells me. “Such as going from RTC into BA, you just have to switch off one part of your brain and turn on another, you are using different skills. It’s never a dull moment.

“I’m really looking forward to the next two weeks of BA, I really enjoy it. After that there is the Swift Water rescue, which I am looking forward to.

We get out of the OBI for a few days, so that will be nice as well.”

Michael Kiernan was an emergency services controller for three and a half years in Tara Street before he started training.

“Training is intense,” he tells me.

“It was hard to adjust for a week or two. I expected it, but you have to adjust. I just finished the BA course, and that took over my life for three weeks. I was exhausted. I think, in general, it is what it is for six months.

It puts a strain on things at home, but family are very supportive. There are 36 lads here and we are all in the same boat. We all want to get through this and come out on the other side and do the job we all want to do.”

For him, the BA course has been the toughest part of training so far.

“We did three weeks of basic training,

which was tough enough in its own right - the drills were heavy - but then three weeks in BA… I had been told BA would be hard.

“RTC, which I won’t be doing until the end of my training, I have been told is quite hard going too, but BA was also mentally tough. You push yourself that bit harder during the BA because in relation to being a firefighter it is the bread and butter of the job – going under air into burning buildings, running in while other people are running out. It’s intense, but it’s intense for a reason, and everyone understands that.

“I was delighted to finish it, but there was a great sense of achievement too,” he adds. “I’ve lost a stone and a half in six weeks, which I’m delighted about. I’m getting a lot fitter, so that’s a good bonus to the training. One of the hidden benefits.”

He is optimistic about the rest of the training, regardless of its difficulty.

“I’m sure the rest of the training will go well,” he says. “I go to paramedic training straight after this, so that is going to be a massive workload mentally, and that will be another challenge come September, but everything is going well so far.

It’s tough, but you are not being shown anything that you can’t do, the instructors are giving you all the information and tools to go and do it. While it may be tough, it is all achievable.

“As long as the instructors see you giving 100%, they want to help you get things right, and I haven’t seen anybody here not giving it their all, not pulling their weight. The instructors see that, and they help everybody get to where they need to be.

“I wouldn’t be the most practical bloke, and I might find the paramedic side of things easier because of my background in studying for exams previously, and I might struggle with some of the practical stuff, but it is all very achievable, and it’s so far, so good.”

As with all of the recruits of Class 1/2019, it’s so far, so good.

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LIFELONG LEARNING

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ST FRANCIS HOSPICE Providing specialist palliative care in North Dublin WHO WE ARE The staff and volunteers of St Francis Hospice provide specialist palliative care to people of North Dublin City and County. Our services are delivered from our hospices in Raheny and Blanchardstown. Based on a Christian philosophy, each person is treated with dignity, respect and compassion, irrespective of their cultural or religious background. Our services are at no charge to patients.

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RETIRED MEMBERS

RETIRED MEMBER PROFILE

Peter “Hedder” Hedderman Adam Hyland talks to retired firefighter and instructor Peter Hedderman about his life in the DFB.

P

eter “Hedder” Hedderman didn’t take the conventional route into the Dublin Fire Brigade, but he certainly left his mark. He had spent four years as a mechanic with CIE when he heard that the DFB needed to employ mechanics to maintain their fleet, and his father, who worked with Dublin Corporation, and his brother Robert, who was already a firefighter, suggested he should apply.

“The job interested me, because it gave a much broader picture than just fixing buses, so I applied with a friend of mine from CIE,” Peter tells me. “I graduated from training with the Order of Merit, and my friend came second.”

On Monday, 5 October, 1981, Peter started in his new career as a firefighter mechanic, as the job title went. “The job was 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, with the proviso that after four years I could move over into being a regular firefighter. That interested me, because you can get tired of being in the pit up to your eyes in muck and dirt – fire engines always leaked back then.”

Four years passed, with Peter getting to know a lot of DFB members from across all watches, and the then DO asked if he had made up his mind whether he would stay in the garage or go onto a Watch.

“It was a no brainer,” he tells me, “I went for D Watch, starting in Tara Street, and was there for around eight years.” After that, he applied for North Strand, and was there for another eight years, but the chance came to become an instructor.

INSTRUCTOR “The OBI rang me and asked me to do a two-day confined spaces instructor course,” he tells me. “It was 28-29 September, 1989, and I remember the dates because I stayed at the OBI for another eight years. I covered courses on confined spaces for civilians and corporations.”

That was followed by a request from then DO John L’Estrange to introduce a fire behaviour course, now the compartment fire behaviour course, involving the need to learn from the experts before being able to pass on the required knowledge to the DFB. With that request, Peter went on to become an important figure in the training of firefighters across Ireland.

It opened his eyes to a world of expertise that was at heart a simple concept, but which came to be an essential part of safe and effective firefighting.

“Myself and my colleague Eddie Reilly went to do two weeks of training

on containers manufactured by a Swedish company, and as soon as we arrived, we were led to our gear and had to dive straight into it,” Peter recalls.

“We used flash hoods for the first time there, because we didn’t have them in the DFB yet. The thought behind it was that if you were too protected, you wouldn’t feel it getting hotter. Ordinarily, you could tell it was getting hot by your ears, but the flash hoods stopped that. So, we asked the Swedish guys how we would know if it was really hot, and they said it was simple enough – you have a hose with you, spray it into the ceiling in a onesecond pulse, and if it turns to steam, you know it is above 100 degrees. If the water drops down, you know it is still safe to be in there.

“We came back after that course and said to the DO that we needed flash hoods for every firefighter. The questions our firefighters had were great, but the answers were so simple.

In the old days they were doing the right things for the wrong reasons – going in and hitting the ceiling with the hose in case there is something up there that might fall on you. But what they were actually doing was, without knowing, clearing the hot gases that would otherwise be dropping down.

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RETIRED MEMBERS

Peter “Hedder” Hedderman.

Peter with Instructor colleague Eddie Reilly.

“Pat Fleming was then in charge in the Dept of Environment, and he was pushing for the new equipment needed to run these courses. We got the containers and the Swedish guys showed us the fire loadings, how to get your flash orb, how to get your backdrafts, fire gas explosions – there was loads in it that we could pass on to firefighters. My speciality was the gas aquarium, which I used to teach firefighters about the gas levels and what happens to them in a fire, the ideal mixture, limits, etc. It all made sense, and was so simple.”

Peter adds: “This included the idea of what smoke actually is. Many just thought it was the stuff that goes in

your eyes, but it is the fire gases given off in the fire that haven’t reached their ideal mixture, so they haven’t burned.

But if you get out there and open the door – gases get out, air comes in, and the gases reach their ideal mixture.

That leads to a big bang. I loved demonstrating that.”

With the expertise and knowledge he gained, Peter began teaching high-level officers all over the country about fire behaviour and the correct techniques to assess and tackle a compartment fire.

“Myself and Eddie Reilly were coming along as upstarts, telling them about this,” Peter says. “Again, a lot of it was so simple when you looked at it –

such as the amount of water available, how to use the first aid reels, what hose to use, how to do a temperature check, etc. I had them eating out of my hand because they knew what I was saying was right.

“We went all over the country because myself and Eddie were the only two instructors in Ireland at the time. We had to run the normal courses and ones for instructors, so that we could have more people to teach the courses.

“The lessons were that the equipment, when used properly, and with the right knowledge, could tell you a lot of information about the fire, simply from how the right amount of water reacts. When we were able to put all of this knowledge into practice in training and then at real call outs, we improved dramatically, and I think that this is probably one of the reasons why we haven’t had any firefighter fatalities in a long time. We had to get 700 firefighters through the OBI to teach them all of this. It was very satisfying, because I was imparting knowledge to people, and they were coming out with one of the best courses they would ever do.”

Peter then moved on to instructing in ship firefighting, running courses required for civilians to get their papers to sale, with Irish Ferries and Stena sending crews to him for courses involving BA, firefighting technology and chemicals.

“If anything goes wrong on a ship and there is a fire 100 miles out… the fire engine stops at the quay wall, so they have to fend for themselves,” Peter tells me.

BACK ON WATCH Following these courses, Peter moved to A Watch in Tallaght, but the large number of instructors on the southside of the city meant he was quickly asked to return to the northside, and he rejoined North Strand station.

During that time, Peter faced one of several health problems, when he

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RETIRED MEMBERS

suffered a heart attack, at the age of 42, and was out of action for a few months. Over his career, he also suffered a broken leg and a ruptured appendix that resulted in blood poisoning.

“I was brought back to the OBI on training duties then, and in fairness, they made good accommodations for me as I continued to do my rehab.” The construction of the Port Tunnel meant that the DFB needed instructors to train firefighters on the Tunnel Response Vehicle based at North Strand, and Peter became involved in this. “They had to send officers to Hagerbach in Switzerland for a two-day course,” Peter says.”Myself and my brother (Assistant Chief Fire Officer) Richard thought it would be a bit of a holiday, but little did we know. We were brought to this tunnel in the mountains and had to deal with a bus on fire, an articulated truck, the smoke and heat have nowhere to go, kerosene burning everywhere. This was the real deal.”

After some time, Peter returned to the garage, and the 9 to 5 working week, but he longed to get back into regular firefighting. “I went back there as a Senior Sub Officer, but I kept thinking of going back on to my Watch, and because I had been away for a while, I ended up back on the transfer list, which is how I ended up working at almost all of the stations for the next few years,” he tells me.

“Eventually I ended up in Dolphin’s Barn, and I loved going out in the ET while there, but every time I was travelling to work, a little voice in my ear kept trying to persuade me to pack it in. I was over 55 and my pension was there. It was asking me if I was mad, going out in the snow on a Sunday night to go to work. I asked what I would get if I retired, and was given an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

RETIREMENT Retirement beckoned, and Peter says that he was more than ready for it. “I have to say I loved the job, but you have to have your head about you in

Peter on Pipe Band duty on St Patrick’s Day.

order to retire,” Peter says. “I know too many firefighters who retired too early, and I know ones who left too late. The ones who leave too early don’t always have their mind made up about what they want to do, and they miss the job.

“The amount of work you have had to put into the job, the amount of stuff you have learned, when you retire, you have to be ready to put all of that aside. People ask me if I miss the fire brigade, and I can honestly say no. I loved it, but I was happy to leave at the time I did.

“Having said that, one thing that helps is that I am still an active member of the DFB Pipe Band, so I am still connected to the job in many ways. Just after I joined D Watch that first time, I decided to join. The Band filled a void, bringing together a lot of different people.”

He recalls an infamous trip to Russia in 1993, and shares with me a few of the highlights. “We went all over the world with the Band,” he adds. “If I hadn’t joined, I don’t think I would have ever set foot outside of Ireland, not to the places I went to.”

Peter is also still an active member of the Retired Members Association.

“I wasn’t that aware of the Retired Members Association until my brother Robert told me about it,” he tells me. “I wasn’t sure. There is a strange thing about the association, because when you hear ‘retired’, you

tend to think, ‘old’. But it is always great craic.”

HELPING THE HOMELESS Peter’s other main pastime now is helping out as a volunteer with the Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH) organisation.

“My daughter is involved and she told me they were looking for a driver,” Peter tells me. “They do outreach every day, helping the homeless people living on the streets.

After 34 years in the Dublin Fire Brigade, I didn’t want to go back out on to the streets, but I said I would do day-time logistics three days per week. We get donations from people and from some shops, who give us end of range clothes. There are people with mental health issues, sexual abuse victims, people with problems at home, but the top problem is drugs.

From my time in the DFB, I was used to dealing with resuscitating people under the influence of drugs, but it doesn’t get any easier.”

For Peter, however, retirement is good, and he enjoys being able to work with the charity to help in any way he can, while he also enjoys being able to plan ad hoc holidays now that he has served his time with the DFB in a colourful and rewarding career.

Given his service and his contribution to the DFB and the city of Dublin, he has definitely earned his retirement.

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

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FAMILY RUN SINCE 1972

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CISM

GROWING THE STRESS MANAGEMENT TEAM The new CISM team continues to provide support to FF/Ps, writes Adam Hyland.

The CISM social media icon designed by FF/P Geoff Tracey.

“

O

ur new team is the most diverse we have ever had,” says, S/O Adrian O’Grady, director of the CISM team in the Dublin Fire Brigade and steering committee member of CISM Network Ireland.

“It is a great representation of the job, and includes a member of the Pipe Band, advanced paramedics, a member of the retained service, and we now cover all walks of life within the DFB.” The team of 16, which includes Coordinator Adrian O’Grady and Clinical Director and psychologist FF/P Aidan Raynor, performs what is an integral service to the DFB by supporting their colleagues in times of high stress, and is very highly trained, with each member accredited to the International Critical Incident Stress Federation (ICISF) standards, a worldwide critical body.

“We have to change the team every four to five years to prevent burnout, because they take on a huge load in supporting their colleagues, as volunteers, as well as working the job just like everybody else beside them,” Adrian tells me.

“There is some carry over from the old team, with FF/Ps Michelle O’Toole, Brian Doyle and Brian Gilbert staying on as mentors, but the new team will forge ahead, managing the phones, acting as the first point of contact and helping to deliver our message.”

That message is that Dublin Fire Brigade members can avail of confidential advice and support from highly-trained CISM team members if they are feeling the effects of a trauma incident or stress caused by work or domestic issues.

Set up in 1999 by Mark Brannigan, who recognised that firefighters needed some sort of psychological support because of the traumas faced on a day to day basis, the CISM team has grown in size and importance ever since.

“It was set up in an era when drinking was the alternative, but things have moved on a lot since then,” Adrian says. He took over as coordinator in 2006, and tells me that they have become “a much more professional outfit”, engaging in a number of vital services.

“Management has always been very supportive in what we are doing,” he adds.

SUPPORT “We have three phonelines that we run 24/7, offering confidential advice and support,” he says. “We

also offer one-to-one interventions and a listening ear, as well as diffusions – peer support meetings held as soon as possible after a traumatic incident, which are held on-station.

We offer debriefings, which is the big psychological support meeting for large groups after a big traumatic event such as a loss of life. We make sure everyone is doing ok in the aftermath, because every individual reacts differently to traumatic scenarios.”

As we speak, Adrian’s colleagues are delivering a lecture to the new recruits at the OBI, and as he tells me, it is important that all firefighters are aware of the supports available throughout their careers, starting at the very start.

“As the recruits are trained, they are taught about what they will see, what to recognise, what kind of incidents may affect them,” he says. “That creates three elements: That they are resistant to trauma when it does come, that they are resilient when it happens and can bounce back quicker than normal, and that if they are affected, that they can recover more quickly, because they can recognise the symptoms. It normalises their reactions for them.

“Also, we give them access to a recognised support with the CISM team, and they can know they can trust us, because we are all firefighters too, alongside them. We’re not an outside agency they don’t know, we work shoulder to shoulder with them.

We have qualified peer supporters and if needs be, psychologists and psychotherapists in our group, trained to operate to a very high standard to provide this support.”

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CISM

The new CISM team at their Passout.

FAMILY NIGHT The recruits are also provided with a family CISM information night, which took place at the end of June, which was supported as always by the DFBSSC, in order to introduce the idea that trauma will be a part of their lives.

“The family night has a few purposes,” Adrian tells me. “Firstly, it warmly welcomes families into the DFB culture, but it also warns them that their loved ones are going to be exposed to trauma, and at times they are going to come home a little bit changed, because it does have a crossover effect, whatever happens in the job, they will bring home with them. Sometimes they will come home angry, irritable, closed off, and when that happens, they need to know what to do, we need to equip families for that eventuality, because our job

is frontline, and we can’t hide from that fact.

“It also gives the families room to get to know each other, to support each other, and the camaraderie takes off very quickly from there. It’s been great for training. It’s fairly basic, but we continue with more presentations and lectures for the recruits as part of their training. These are more intensive and help to equip them an awful lot more. We go into specific types of incidents, what kind of thing can affect them, a lot more about the symptoms and normalising them, and who to contact. To get to know the CISM team and what we can offer.”

“The message is ultimately that if they have any symptoms, they should contact us, and we ensure they know how to do that. We also have staff support services with Dublin City Council, and they are available to

our members as well. There are things we tell them to look for, based on family discord at home. If they are bringing it home with them, that’s the time to ring us, if they are not sleeping well, if they notice dramatic changes in appetite after an incident, those are the signs, so we spell that out for them.”

STRESS This continues throughout the career of every FF/P, because the threat of trauma or stress remains very real.

“We try to get around to the stations as often as we can, and our new team is trained to deliver the message,” Adrian says. “We also have posters and leaflets at every station, we have a module on the eLearning platform.

The message is constantly going out there, and it reflects in the number of contacts we get. It is constant. One

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year we got more than 500 one to ones, and this year looks like we will have something similar. It’s busy, but it reflects how busy the job of a FF/P is.

“There’s a lot more shootings, cases of child abuse, a rise in untimely deaths because of the homeless situation, and these are horrific to our members. We have to witness some of those deaths first hand as first responders. It all has an impact, and it is natural to be affected.”

Adrian and colleague FF/P Brian Doyle recently presented their research findings regarding the benefits of the family night and the development of CISM within the DFB over 20 years on the world stage at the ICISF conference in Baltimore. This underlined the importance of having the CISM system in place.

“What our research now shows us is 30% moderate post-traumatic stress in the job. That would be more or less in line with other fire brigades around the world, but it is pretty good when you consider we are an ambulance service as well. The ambulance does add another traumatic level that others don’t have. It’s in line, but it shows we do have the effects of trauma within the DFB, it’s the reality, and we can’t hide from that fact. That reinforces the need for CISM. We need trauma therapists in the future, as do all frontline services, because looking at post-traumatic stress disorder as a disorder of the person is not the way to look at it, it’s a post-traumatic injury, just like a physical injury.”

As well as the three 24/7 phonelines, the CISM team has also been using a CISM alert system designed by Adrian for the last two years. “This is a very important conduit,” he says. “If the call taker in the control room recognises a stressful call, they will send us an alert that we receive on our phones telling us the type of call, the nature of it, and the address. We can know from that the call taker needs support, and what motors or crews need to follow up on the incident. We found that certain calls were not coming through to us, so we weren’t finding out about some traumatic incidents, because

Group intervention training.

the officer didn’t know about it, just the ambulance crew. So that system enables us to be on top of almost all stressful calls. When we brought it in, it was immediately backed up by S/O John Moody and S/O Kevin Finn, and the control room team gave it all the support to run it through the control system. We are the only ones with that system.”

Contact with the CISM team can also be made by officers, who can call after an incident to let the team know of a particularly bad incident, and that a meeting with the crew may be required.

SOCIAL MEDIA As well as a newly-trained team, the DFB CISM has also launched its own social media presence on Facebook and Twitter.

Under the title of DFB Stress Matters, the Facebook page has grown its reach to 10,000 in the last month. “It’s getting a good uptake,” Adrian says. “Apart from the wellness aspect, we do posts based around education of the job, what it involves, and the risks involved in terms of burnout and trauma, but also emphasise the importance of supporting each other before and after an incident. There is always a psychological side to the messages.

It’s educational for the FF/Ps, but also for the public, to show them what the DFB have to go through on a daily basis. We are teaching it to everybody, and opening it up to everybody.”

On Twitter, the team goes by @Dfbstress, and also promotes the message of wellness and education regarding the job, and the services the group provides.

Small group practice.

Apart from that, Adrian is also working with the First Light charity on developing information regarding recently bereaved parents. “We are looking to design a leaflet to assist our members as they manage the aftermath of a child death,” he tells me, “when they have to break bad news, what to do when you have to sit with a parent and wait for other services to arrive, when there is nothing you can do. Because there is something you can do, and we are planning to have a focus group with bereaved parents to see the actions we can take that don’t add to their stress at this horrific moment.”

Meanwhile, the new team will continue to train and refresh their skills regularly, provide support, and help spread the message that they are available to any DFB member who needs them, whenever they need them.

The 24/7 phone numbers offering confidential advice and support are: CISM 1: 086 815 0181 CISM 2: 087 210 5276 CISM 3: 086 815 0183 Facebook: DFB Stress Matters Twitter: @Dfbstress For further information, see http://www.cismnetworkireland.ie

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INTERNATIONAL PROFILE

HOBART FIRE DEPARTMENT, Station Officer Andrew Emery talks to Adam Hyland about life as a firefighter in one of the world’s most bushfire-prone regions.

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hile Tasmania is pretty much as far as you can get from Ireland, Station Officer with Hobart Fire Department, Andrew Emery, is quick to point out that there is a strong connection between the two.

“As islands, we both stand separately, but we also look out for each other because of a strong sense of community,” he tells me, and he has seen that first-hand as a recent guest of the DFB. He was awarded Australia’s Churchill Fellowship because of his motivation to learn international best practices and ideas to improve first aid education and training of firefighters, and visited the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland to research how fire departments integrated emergency medical services into their organisation, while also examining the welfare systems for frontline responders who experience these incidents. Luckily enough, his time with the DFB just happened to coincide with the St Patrick’s Day festivities.

“In Tasmania we don’t have any formalised fire-based medical response – we have a separate ambulance service for that - but as time goes on, there is more of an interest in providing emergency medical service within the

Fire Service to supplement ambulance responses,” he says.

“So, I went to the UK with London Fire Brigade, to Boston, Toronto, St John’s Newfoundland, Winnipeg, Los Angeles and of course Dublin. The DFB’s model of integrated fire and ambulance service within the one unit is unique, and one day, could potentially be something that we in Tasmania could consider. At the moment though, there is a real place for firefighters to be co-responded with the ambulance service to enact the chain of survival on life-threatening medical events”.

Andrew, who has been with the Tasmania Fire Service for 18 years, wasn’t alone on his visit to Ireland either. “A couple of colleagues joined me in Dublin and they were more than happy to enjoy the social side of the visit while I did my work,” he tells me, “but I was also obviously able to enjoy a fantastic time. It was definitely one of the best weekends of my life.”

SIMILARITIES This was, in part, due to the similarities between the two organisations he mentions, and the people who work within them. “We have a great relationship with the DFB,” he says.

“We are kind of the same in that we come from an old colonial fire brigade

set-up, and there are a lot of similarities in the way we work, and in our cultures, how we go about things.”

The Tasmania Fire Service has a similar set-up to the DFB in terms of rank structure, but its organisational structure is somewhat different.

Hobart itself has five fire stations, with around 150 full-time firefighters, and around another 100 firefighters serving the other major cities of Launceston, Burnie and Devonport, but there are also approximately 230 other volunteer or retained fire brigades consisting of a total of 4,800 volunteers (approximately half of these are frontline firefighters with the others filling support and administrative roles). “All of our fire brigades, both full-time and volunteer, operate under the banner of the Tasmania Fire Service,” Andrew says.

His own station in Hobart has two frontline heavy pumps, an aerial platform, heavy rescue truck and a fleet of bushfire vehicles, which are frequently in use during the summer months.

“As with a lot of urban population centres, Hobart is surrounded by bush, so there are a lot of bushfires to contend with,” he tells me. “In the morning we could be putting out an urban building fire or dealing with a road crash, and in the afternoon, we could be dealing with a large bushfire which may be threatening homes, both of which provide their own unique challenges.”

The Service also has a HazMat Response, High Angle Rescue Teams, and Chemical, Biological and Radiological Incident response, and while specialist equipment is designated to specific stations, all personnel are trained to respond to each type of incident.

“Tasmania Firefighters are unique in that we don’t have specialist firefighters to perform certain specialist roles. Each firefighter is highly trained in all facets of our response. I strongly believe that Tasmanian firefighters are one of, if not the most skilled and knowledgeable in the country, if not the world.”

As a result of this training, and because of the network of brigades throughout the State, it is essential that

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INTERNATIONAL PROFILE Hobart Main Fire Station

Tasmania Fire Service SO Andrew Emery presents a gift to CFO Dennis Keeley

cooperation is good, and Andrew says that the entire organisation works very well together to respond to incidents on a State-wide scale. The need for this cooperation was highlighted in a tragic event more than 50 years ago, which brought about major changes in the Tasmania Fire Service.

ONE ENTITY “The reason why all of our brigades act as one entity or organisation is because in 1967 there were a series of smaller bushfires which, under catastrophic fire conditions rapidly grew – We refer to this day as ‘Black Tuesday’– in which 62 people died, almost a thousand were injured and thousands were left homeless,” Andrew tells me. “At that time, we had rural fire boards and an urban fire brigade, but there was little cooperation and they had incompatible gear, lack of communications with each other, incompatible or non-existent management systems, so when the big bushfires happened and caused the destruction they did, the inquest into it showed that that system didn’t work and we needed to have an overhaul of the way fire in Tasmania was managed.

“After that, in 1979, the Tasmania Fire Service was established, and since then all brigades have worked closely. Local brigades will at times be called upon to help in other regions across the state, and will have to travel and stay in other communities for a week or so at a time, so fostering that idea of helping out and being part of the one big firefighting community is important to underline.

“We do similar training, have the same uniform, school each other, and

You don’t get many climate change sceptics on the end of a fire hose in Tasmania. work with each other on call outs and on big bushfires, so it is a really good arrangement and provides the best protection for the people of Tasmania.”

This means firefighters are well equipped, but the climate and environment of Tasmania can present a major and ever-growing challenge.

CHALLENGES “Working in 40degree heat in the height of summer can be a real challenge, especially when you have all the protective gear on,” Andrew says, “but there are management programmes in place to ensure people get the right breaks and time away from frontline activities. The weather is also getting hotter and more unpredictable every year, and we are seeing a lot more bushfires, not just during the traditional season but throughout the year.”

He agrees with the saying: “You don’t get many climate change sceptics on the end of a fire hose in Tasmania.”

Indeed, the southern region of Tasmania is “probably the most bushfireprone area in the world,” Andrew says.

“That’s mainly because of our climate, vegetation types and general ecosystem.

Most of our vegetation has fire as part of their normal regeneration cycle. The bush is just out the back door, even in a city such as Hobart, and we have the

challenges of living in a rural setting and of urban sprawl into these areas, with the city creeping into bushland.

“Natural events such as lightning strikes can lead to bushfires, but they can also be started by human activity.

We have a ‘heavy weight of attack principle’ that means we try to get as many aircraft, firefighting units and personnel to the source of the fire – whether in bushland or mountains – and try to deal with it before it spreads, especially in areas which are close to populated areas.

Primarily overseeing public land, urban and residential areas, the Fire Service works in tandem with the National Parks service, which is responsible for national parks, reserves and world heritage areas as well as Sustainable Timber Tasmania (formerly Forestry Tasmania), who are responsible for the commercial forestry assets of the state. All three organisations working together form an effective response to the bushfire threat.

“Lots of areas in Tasmania are remote and inaccessible by land so we need to utilise helicopters to drop off firefighters, water and equipment.

These firefighters then work with and coordinate water-bombing aircraft and run kilometres of hose in order to round-up and extinguish the fire. The

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Tasmanian firefighters on Mount Wright ©Warren Frey

majority of the public don’t realise these specialist remote area firefighters are the same firefighters protecting them in the middle of the city or suburbs.”

Remote area firefighting is a tough job with many challenges, but Andrew says: “All of our remote area teams are highly skilled and knowledgeable. They also understand the importance of protecting our unique environment as well as our community. Due to this uniqueness, we all feel that personal responsibility to protect it for generations to come to enjoy it.

COMMUNITY “We are getting a few more recruits from the mainland of Australia with every recruitment phase, but more than 90% of our personnel would be Tasmanian. One of the things I enjoy the most about my job is that because we live in a relatively small city and state with a low population, there is an immense sense of pride that Tasmanian Firefighters have for their environment and their community. It’s fantastic.

“While we have the extra skills and equipment to deal with fires and bushfires, the community also play an important part and engage in fire prevention and protection campaigns and training.”

That sense of being part of the community is of great importance, especially when it comes to educating

the public on the dangers of bushfires.

“We like to think we can be on hand to deal with any fires, but we obviously consider prevention better than the cure, so we put a lot of time and resources into bushfire prevention,” Andrew tells me. “It’s all about getting the message across that we are all sharing the risk. So, we educate people on preparing their homes in the event of a bushfire.

“Unfortunately, in the event of a major fire or multiple fires, we can’t be everywhere at once, so it is up to the community to be able to protect themselves to some degree, and that is what our education programs, which are taught from school level up, are about.

“TFS staff also go out to townships and regional areas and not just pass on knowledge but actively help with fire prevention through burn offs to clear land susceptible to bushfires to prevent their spreading. The size of this can vary because you might be looking at an area of ten acres or 4,000 acres. We have a dedicated Bushfire Risk Unit which plans a lot of these fuel reduction burns, but more often than not, volunteers or career firefighters (or a combination of both) are called upon to assist in conducting these controlled burn-offs.”

As a SO, one of Andrew’s roles is to act as a supporting officer at incidents in remote regions where the area is served by a volunteer crew, one of which he

was for three years before becoming a full-time firefighter. Travelling both interstate and internationally has given him a particular appreciation for the work he sees, both at home and abroad.

He worked in Toronto for a year as part of an exchange, which he says was “very interesting and different, and a great learning experience to see how a fire department in a big city operates”.

Andrew is also quick to point out that if any member of the DFB was interested in a similar exchange between Hobart and Dublin, it could be facilitated, so contact Andrew (or keep an eye on the notice board at your station).

Talk of Dublin brings back fond memories of his recent visit with colleagues. “I have travelled the world and worked in and with several Australian and International fire services and have to say that I love Tasmania, but I would never say no to the chance to work in Dublin,” he tells me. “The work is very similar, the people are very friendly, I love the country, and of course I am partial to a nice pint of Guinness!”

He also wants to express his sincere thanks to the DFB for being such great hosts during his visit.

“Visiting Dublin and the Dublin Fire Brigade over the St Patrick’s weekend was a really great opportunity, and easily one of the most enjoyable times of my life,” he says. “Everyone was fantastic in making sure all of us from Tasmania had a great time, but I would like to give a special thanks to S/O Declan Rice and FF/P Vincent Donegan for all they did on the social side of things, and to EMS D/O Martin O’Reilly for sharing his time and experience and his passion for all of the medical responsibilities of my trip. I’d also like to thank the officers and firefighters at Phibsboro Station for letting me spend time with them.

“The hospitality of the Dublin Fire Brigade over the entire St Patrick’s Day festivities, and my research will never be forgotten, and I would welcome the chance to repay the hospitality I received here in Tasmania to any visiting Dublin Fire Brigade member.”

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DFB HISTORY

THE DFB’S THOMAS CURRAN AND THE THOMPSON MACHINE GUN Former DFB member and forgotten revolutionary Thomas Curran.

DFB historian Las Fallon unearths the remarkable story of a forgotten republican.

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hile researching members of the Dublin Fire Brigade who played a role in the fight for Irish freedom, I came across an old Department of Defence memo listing members of the DFB who were in receipt of pensions under the 1934 Military Service Pensions Act (the act applicable to all persons in receipt of pensions from the Revolutionary period). One name, Thomas Curran, stood out, as I had not found anything in relation to his activities during the research for two books and numerous articles.

The usual next step in this process would be to go online to the website of the excellent Irish Military Archives and simply look him up on the MSP application files. Thomas Curran’s file has not yet been digitalised, and so is not available online, and because it is presumably in the process of being prepared for scanning, it is not available to researchers for the foreseeable future.

I checked my own files, built up over 30 years of researching the history of the DFB. I found that he was born on 19 November, 1894, in Ardee, Co Louth. He joined the DFB on 18 May, 1924, and listed his previous occupation

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The Thompson sub-machine gun.

as ‘seaman’. He served until retirement on 9 August, 1954.

FIREMAN AND REVOLUTIONARY With nothing else to go on, I went online and asked some friends for advice on other avenues to follow.

I was very fortunate that a good friend, Christina McMullen, a US based historical researcher, came to my aid. Christina went through her newspaper archives and came back with a death notice from the Evening Herald of 8 March, 1962, announcing Curran’s death and funeral arrangements, and listing him as a former member of Dublin Fire Brigade and ‘F ’Company, 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Republican Army.

Here was the start of the story, and Christina soon supplied more.

Thomas Curran was mentioned in various newspaper cutting for his involvement in fire and ambulance work, and I found from the cuttings that he had been one of the three Dublin firemen, with Michael Rogers – another former IRA man, and Patrick O`Reilly, who had found the body of Matt Talbot on 7 June, 1925. Talbot’s devotion to the Catholic church would later see him proposed for canonisation.

Another lead came from Christina, with a link to a file in the McGarrity Papers in the National

Library of Ireland. A trip to the National Library in Kildare Street uncovered two letters written by Tom Curran to Joseph McGarrity, a huge figure in Irish American support for the Irish cause. The letters were written to ask for a reference in relation to his work on behalf of the IRA in support of his application for a Military Service Pension. They opened up an amazing story.

Joseph McGarrity, a Tyrone man, emigrated to the United States in 1894. He was a friend of many of the leaders of the Irish cause and was a prominent member of Clan Na Gael, setting up a branch in Philadelphia.

The letters from Tom Curran were among the McGarrity Papers held in the National Library of Ireland, and proved to be a goldmine of information.

Tom Curran’s letters, sent from Dorset Street Fire Station in 1936, remind McGarrity of their close relationship during the Revolutionary period, when Curran worked as a seaman on trans-Atlantic ships, sailing mainly to Philadelphia and becoming a member of Clan Na Gael there. He speaks of smuggling ammunition and funds back to Ireland from 1917 and of later carrying despatches from Michael Collins for Harry Boland, who was in the US on IRA work from June 1919.

SMUGGLING Curran listed the ships he sailed on from 1917, and they show a regular pattern of sailing to the US carrying despatches and then returning while smuggling arms, ammunition and funds to the IRA. The list of ships was interesting, detailing their names and dates of arriving/ leaving the US, but one stood out for me: the SS Eastside. Thomas Curran had been a crewman on this ship and part of a major arms smuggling event which might well have changed the course of the war in Ireland. He had been part of the group involved in trying to smuggle nearly 500 Thompson sub machine guns, which were seized by the federal authorities in Hoboken, New Jersey, in June 1921.

The Thompson sub machine gun was the brainchild of Brigadier General John T Thompson. It came too late for the First World War, and Thompson hit financial difficulties while developing the gun and sought a financial backer.

He got one in the shape of Thomas Ryan, who became his partner in the Auto Ordnance Corporation.

Ryan was also a member of Clan Na Gael, and was quick to see the potential for this new weapon in the Irish struggle. Money was channelled from Ireland through Harry Boland to support the fledgling company, and an order was

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placed through third parties for a large consignment of the weapon for the IRA. The Thompson was capable of fully automatic fire in short or long bursts. It was a .45ACP calibre and used detachable 20 round stick and 50 or 100 round drum magazines.

The stock was also detachable, making the weapon very suitable for concealing under a coat, and the weapon was easy to strip down for cleaning. All in all, an ideal weapon for the both the IRA’s rural flying columns and their city-based active service units.

MARINO CASINO Some Thompsons were smuggled individually into Ireland, and the first test firing of a Thompson in Ireland was in the basement of the Casino in Marino, right beside the O`Brien Institute, in the presence of Michael Collins. Tom Barry, the legendary West Cork flying column commander, had the honour of firing the first shots and was followed by other senior IRA figures. The session ended abruptly when a Christian Brother from the OBI arrived to plead with them to stop, as the tunnels they were using for the firing test were amplifying, rather than killing the sound of the shots, and they feared the imminent arrival of the British Army, or the Auxies, to investigate the noise.

The weapon was demonstrated to the British government among other potential customers, and the British were also quick to see its potential. When paperwork relating to the Thompson gun was captured in raids in Ireland, the British Secret Service began to take an interest in the running of the Auto Ordnance Corporation and its customers. Following a tip-off, the Investigations Bureau of the US Department of Justice (shortly to be renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation) and in particular an up and coming staff member called J Edgar Hoover, began to

A document from the US Bureau of Investigation notifying J Edgar Hoover of Sinn Fein activities.

look for evidence of ‘Sinn Fein activity’ among the customers. This investigation led to the raid on the SS Eastbound, due to sail to Ireland the following day, which found 495 Thompsons, 1391 stick magazines, 660 drum magazines, 440 manuals and a crate of .45ACP ammunition.

Interestingly, the amount of ammunition and magazines was probably smaller than would be required for a weapon with a high rate of fire, and shows the general inexperience of all concerned with this new type of weapon. The ammunition for the weapon was different from what was used by Crown Forces (whose captured ammunition was the main source of IRA supplies) and there would have been difficulties sourcing it in the longer run as well.

WHAT IFS In any case, the guns were gone and the Eastside joins the ranks of the Fenian ‘Erins Hope’ of 1867, the 1916 ’Aud’ and later vessels such as the ‘Marita Ann’ and the ‘Eksund’ among the ‘what ifs’ of history. An interesting footnote on the 1921 seizure of the Thompsons on the SS Eastside is that the warrant that the action was based on was later overturned in a US court, and the remaining weapons (some had been issued to the US Marine Corps for the invasion of Nicaragua in 1927)

were returned to their legal owners - Clan Na Gael. Compensation was also paid for the weapons taken from the impounded stock and issued to the US Marines.

In later years, many of the Thompsons from the ‘Eastside’ cargo were smuggled into Ireland and featured in later phases of the conflict here. Both sides in the Civil War were enthusiastic users of the Thompson, but its first recorded use in warfare anywhere was in two IRA ambushes on trains at Drumcondra and Ballyfermot (Killeen Road) in June of 1921, shortly before the Truce (and probably using the ‘OBI’ Thompsons).

After narrowly avoiding arrest for his role in the attempted smuggling of the Thompsons (he was overlooked as he was part of the ship’s crew, unlike the others arrested) Tom Curran returned to Ireland. He would have arrived post-Truce and in the confusion and upheaval that led to the Civil War. As yet, we have no idea of his role at that period prior to his joining the DFB in 1924.

The story of Thomas Curran, and his role in the fight for Irish freedom, is a work in progress.

I will return to it when his Military Service Pension documents become public, and look forward to telling what promises to be an interesting story.

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CHARITY CYCLE

A ROAD WELL TRAVELLED The recent Sheelagh Finn Charity Cycle was a great success, writes Tom McLoughlin.

S

heelagh Finn from Malahide lost her battle with cancer last February at the age of 60. Sheelagh loved to cycle: She was a regular participant in charity cycling events alongside her pals from the Irish Centre for Cycling, and F/F Stephen Cushen from C Watch No 13 and I had the pleasure of joining her for some of these events.

Sheelagh was also very active in fundraising for charity. One close to her heart was CASA, (Caring And Sharing Association), as she used their services for her son Patrick. CASA’s aim is to develop friendships and provide respite and social outlets for people with disabilities. They support people of all ages and backgrounds with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities, and it goes without saying that the demand for their services greatly exceeds their volunteer capacity.

My wife Tina had visited Sheelagh in hospital before she passed, and was looking to get a group of friends together to remember her. We also got word that CASA were looking for assistance in purchasing a van in reasonable condition to support their great work. Hence a plan was hatched to fundraise by holding a charity cycle in Sheelagh’s name.

My first call was to Pat Finn, Sheelagh’s husband, to seek his family’s approval, and they were very happy and willing to participate. We then made

Sheelagh Finn

contact with Rebecca Sheridan from CASA and also got their approval.

North County Dublin is popular with cyclists, so the perfect location to start and finish was Swords Fire Station.

Permission was sought The Sheelagh Finn Charity Cycle was a great success from Dublin Fire Brigade, and thankfully the support was amazing. safety brief before road marshalls and The date was set for 9 June, with Fergus Byrne and his Civil Defence a plan for 25km and 50km routes. crew took up their posts, after which There was red tape to get through, the first wave of the 50km set out to but Mick Breen from the Irish Centre the sound of DFBPB Piper Seamie for Cycling came to the rescue. He O’Rouke, C Watch No 3. They were had run a number of similar events followed by the 25km group, including before, and he and his wife Mary were Pat and family. also good friends of Sheelagh. So, full Everyone completed both routes steam ahead: Fundraising, sponsors, safely under the watchful eyes of our advertising and opening registration marshals, with Richie Hunter, D Watch online through Eventbrite. After No 4, and Ger Lonergan, D Watch several meetings with Mick and Paul HQ, in the chase vans, our motorcycle McEvoy, D Watch 13, progress was marshals led by S/O Graham Parkes being made. and our medics Garry Hayden, D We were delighted to get sponsorship Watch 13, and Keith Murphy, D Watch from Labelworld, Buzz Print & Signs, HQ. The cyclists returned to the GoCar Ireland, Dennehy’s Pro+ station greeted by local TD and good and several others local supporters friend of the DFB Darragh O’Brien. including our own DFB Pipe Band and The charity cycle was a great success; DFB Sports & Social Club. €8,000 was raised to go towards the As the day approached it was time purchase of a much-needed van for for Paul, and John Harmon (DFB CASA. The event only succeeded Retired), to set out and mark both with the support of all our sponsors, routes with signage and arrows. supporters, volunteers and cyclists, The big day arrived, with registration thank you all. at 8.30am, before Chief Fire Officer Thank you to our Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley officially opened the Dennis Keeley, all the crews in No event, followed by a few words from 13 Station, logistical support from Rebecca Sheridan from CASA and Pat BTO Brendan Carroll, ABTO Frank Finn on behalf of Sheelagh and family.

Kiernan, A/S/Off Paul Greene and Mick Breen gave the 103 cyclists their A/D/O Martin Cooke.

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06/09/2019 13:19

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Emergency Services News From Around the Globe.

BARBADOS

ITALY

In an upgrade of its almost 60-year-old legislation, the Barbados Fire Service is set to become a fire and rescue service.

Reform and revision of the Barbados Fire Service Act of 1962 is said to be top of the government’s agenda, with the use of improved technology a central focus in the expanded service.

Speaking at the launch of the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs conference in May, Minister of Home Affairs, Edmund Hinkson, said: “We at the level in my ministry, with input from the management of the fire service and the association, are actively preparing a new legislative platform for the delivery of fire service in order to modernize and position our service in line with current practices in the profession.”

This, he said, would allow it to ultimately be more responsive to the public’s demands in the 21st Century.

The fire service’s appointments would fall under a Protective Services Commission, which will allow for a more effective regime for the personal advancement and promotion of fire officers, he declared.

Two students blamed for a large forest fire in the Como region have each been fined €13.5million.

The men, both aged 22, were barbecuing at a mountain forest home belonging to one of their grandfathers when the fire broke out late last year.

The huge fine imposed in April was calculated by local officials based on a formula used to determine the extent of the damage caused by the fire: €118€593 per square metre.

One of the men said the pair had become “scapegoats of a fire that cannot be explained” but prosecutors traced the path of the fire back to their property.

The fire lasted several days, destroying 1,000 hectares of forest on Monte Berlinghera.

A lawyer for one of the students told media that any sentence should be meaningful and have a point.

"What is the sense to impose an administrative sanction... already knowing that the two boys, still students, cannot pay it?" she said.

However, prosecutors told local news outlets that the fine was "a signal that we need to push people to greater responsibility in protecting the environment".

Italian media reports also suggest that the pair could be held liable in separate actions by property owners who were affected by the fire.

FIRE DEPARTMENT TO INCORPORATE RESCUE SERVICE

FRANCE

NOTRE DAME FIRE CAUSE REVEALED

STUDENTS FACE FIRE FINES OF €13.5MILLION

Police officials in Paris have revealed that an electrical short-circuit most likely caused the devastating blaze at Notre Dame Cathedral.

The landmark building, including the spire that was consumed by fire and collapsed, was in the initial

stages of a lengthy restoration when fire broke out on April 15.

Investigators so far believe the fire was accidental, following the questioning of more than 40 staff and workers who were carrying out renovations at the time.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

GERMANY

MEXICO

FIRE BRIGADES CALL FOR MILITARY HELICOPTERS TO FIGHT WILDFIRES

FIRE DEPARTMENT IMPLICATED IN SALE OF FIREFIGHTER JOBS

Germany’s unseasonably warm spring has prompted fire brigades to call for military helicopters to be kept on standby for water dousing.

President of the Fire Brigades’ Federation Hartmut Ziebs said only the army’s Sikorsky CH-53 transporters were capable of airlifting 5,000 litre refillable water canisters that may be needed this summer.

Germany allows local firefighters to request federal and regional state assistance, including the provision of police and military vehicles, in the case of major emergencies. But there may not be enough helicopters available.

"Using the rotation principle, it must be possible to deploy at least three helicopters simultaneously at three major emergency scenes across Germany," said Ziebs.

The DFV does not have its own special wildfireextinguishing aircraft that are commonly seen tackling wildfires in northern America or southern Europe.

Responding to the appeal from the DFV, Germany's Interior Ministry said the Federal Police had 12 Puma helicopters. But they are only able to lift 2,000-liter water dousing units.

BIGFOOT BECOMES FACE OF OREGON FIRE PREVENTION

✶

USA

The Oregon Fire Department has enlisted the help of Bigfoot to spread the word about fire prevention in the heavilyforested region prone to destructive wildfires.

The state’s “Believe in Fire Safety” campaign taglines play on the mythical status of the sasquatch, and the unusually large footprints said to be found in woodland areas.

One campaign poster shows a silhouette of Bigfoot carrying a shovel and bucket of water, while the “Leave only footprints” posters shows him hiking with human friends in Oregon’s wilds.

“Wildfires can easily be ignited by backyard burning; an unattended campfire; a hot car on tall, dry grass; or from dragging tow chains — and they spread fast,” said Oregon Gore Marshal Jim Walker. “We hope our Bigfoot campaign will draw attention and create a bigger ‘footprint’ of wildfire prevention efforts around the state.”

A special investigation by administrators in Mexico City has found evidence that the executive of the fire department under the previous city government had “sold” jobs to unqualified candidates, despite the presence of clear hiring standards.

The department’s general manager, administrative director and human resources sub-director have been implicated, while the firefighters’ union leader, Ismael Figueroa Flores, is also under suspicion.

Various fire department employees have revealed that they paid between 150,000 and 200,000 pesos (€7,000 - €9,000) in exchange for key positions within the department.

The city’s director of administrative oversight, Juan José Serrano Mendoza, said: “The probe is focused on the fact that these jobs were handed out outside the law. They were warned from the beginning that their hires were not competent, nor were they hiring them in accordance with guidelines.”

Last November, union leader Figueroa and two firefighters were attacked by a gunman in a restaurant in the La Condesa district of Mexico City. The shooter later confessed he had attacked the men because he was not given the high-ranking position within the fire department for which he had paid 120,000 pesos.

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the majority of those who paid for positions at the department never received them.

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TRAVEL

GOING OFF-PISTE Ski trips don’t have to mean going to the Alps.

Here’s seven alternative destinations where you can hit the slopes this winter.

BANSKO, BULGARIA Located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, a two-hour drive from Sofia, Bansko is a beautifully rustic town considered by those in the know to be the new Andorra, in that it offers all you need for a ski holiday, without the overcrowding you would expect in the “big five” locations of France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria.

It has 18 long ski runs of varying difficulty, and a recent multimillion-

euro investment in the area means it has an excellent infrastructure for skiing and snowboarding, and is becoming a best-kept secret for the latter.

The best thing about this location is the array of hotels of various standards and prices, so you can pick and choose to suit your budget. Food and drink are also considerably cheaper than at other more well-trodden ski resorts, with the likes of goulash, mezze and the local fruit brandy Rakia devoured by locals and visitors alike. The number of après-ski options is also an enticement, so your group can enjoy the vibrant nightlife that comes after a day in the snow.

More info: www.bulgariaski.com/bansko

ZAKOPANE, POLAND Zakopane is nicknamed the winter capital of Poland, and though its skiing highlights have been praised throughout the country since the 1880s, it is not well known to visitors.

The youngest Alpine chain in the world, it has plenty to offer skiers, and those who just want a winter break, and while it is still working towards being a renowned ski resort to compare with those in Switzerland or France, the views are undeniably breath-taking.

The area has four different ski centres to choose from – Szymoszkowa, Harenda, Kasprowy Wierch and Nosal – and while each of them welcomes all levels of skier, Nosal is perhaps the

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TRAVEL

Zakopane

Davraz

Bansko

Mavrovo

best option for those new to the sport.

It has nine easy runs, all with ski lifts, and English-language ski schools are at hand to give novices an introductory course that will have them out on the slopes in no time at all.

More info: www.discoverzakopane. com/skiing.html

DAVRAZ, TURKEY That’s right, Turkey! You wouldn’t think you could go skiing in this part of the world, but that’s what makes it another great European secret. Davraz is close to the Mediterranean yet accumulates around two metres of snow depth

every winter, which is plenty for a good ski trip.

Located in the middle of three crystal clear lakes that provide amazing views from the slopes, it offers various difficulty levels ranging from safe and slow to challenging black runs for the show-offs amongst you. While it is still relatively unknown to the wider world, it is fast becoming a hot new spot for ski trips, so get there before the crowds do.

Prices also compare favourably to the bigger Alpine resorts, so this is another great location for groups on a budget.

More info: www.skiingturkey.com/ resorts/davraz.html

MAVROVO, MACEDONIA Just like Turkey, Macedonia is not necessarily a country that springs to mind when you think of European ski destinations. An oft-forgotten region in the Balkans, the Mavrovo mountains lie an hour and a half from the capital Skopje, and see an average snowfall of 70cm every year between November and April.

Mavrovo National Park has its own ski centre – Zare Lazereski - in a beautifully scenic area overlooking a large lake that is perfect for skiers and snowboarders, with recent renovations increasing the capacity of ski lifts and ski chairs to 14, to get you up to the action across 25 kilometres of pistes. There is also a snow park complete with obstacles

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TRAVEL

for those who want to show off their tricks and flips.

It’s also very affordable, with ski rental around €10 per day, ski passes at around €18, and the average accommodation setting you back a mere €10 per night. What’s not to like?

More info: www.skimavrovo.com/en

POIANA BRASOV, ROMANIA Romanian ski enthusiasts love this place, and your group will too, especially because it caters for beginners and intermediate skill levels, rather than the real pros.

Virtually unknown outside Romania, this ski resort in the Postavaru region of the Carpathian Mountains is three hours from Bucharest, and offers more than 14 kilometres of slopes spread across 13 different pistes (as well as an Olympic run if you really need to show off).

As well as skiing, visitors can avail of snowboarding, snowshoe trekking, winter camping and ice skating, but its real appeal is its outstanding night skiing runs, for those who want to enjoy the relative calm of a nocturnal adventure.

The medieval city of Brasov is only 14 kilometres away, and the legendary Castle Dracula is just over 20km from the resort, for those who want to get their teeth into a little bit of local history.

Very much a budget resort, it may not offer the luxury of other ski locations, but the price is most certainly right for those who don’t want to spend a fortune: Ski passes cost around €20.

More info: www.poianabrasov.com

SAARISELKA, FINLAND A trip to Lapland doesn’t have to involve a visit to Santa, and once you visit this northernmost ski resort in Europe, you may never go back to the Alps for a ski trip again.

Saariselka lies in the mountainous Urho Kekkonen National Park region

Poiana Brasov

Saariselka

Cairngorm

of northern Finland, well within the Arctic Circle, and offers 180km of skiing terrain for all levels. You ned to fly from Helsinki to Ivalo, but every flight is met by a connecting bus to bring you to the resort, and the journey will definitely be worth it, as will the Alp-like prices.

For those who don’t fancy hitting the slopes, there are also acres of beautiful woodland where you can enjoy snowshoe treks, cross-country skiing and sledding, as well as husky and reindeer rides.

The resort also has great saunas to help you thaw out, and its own microbrewery, but its stand-out appeal is the Aurora Borealis, which play out across the night sky throughout the winter months.

If you’ve never seen the Northern Lights, there are few better places to get an introduction to this beautiful natural wonder.

CAIRNGORMS, SCOTLAND

More info: www.skisaariselka.com

More info: www.cairngormmountain.org

If you fancy a great ski break but don’t want to go too far afield, Aviemore in Scotland could be your best bet. Located in the Cairngorm National Park in the Highlands, less than an hour from Inverness, this resort offers easy and intermediate ski runs across a 30km region that has 30 accessible slopes, and a lot of stunning scenery.

Snow stays put here longer than anywhere else in Britain, and when conditions are good, they are very, very good, rivalling anywhere else in Europe.

There’s a handy funicular railway to bring you up to the slopes, as well as several ski lifts, a freestyle park and a ski school to help get you started if you’ve never donned a set of skis before.

The après-ski is also a big draw, with log fires, hearty food, traditional music and of course, delicious Scotch on hand to warm you up after a day on the slopes.

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BOOK REVIEW

BOOKSHELF MORTIMER AND WHITEHOUSE GONE FISHING:

Life, Death and the Thrill of the Catch

by Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse

I

f you missed the low-key TV show that came before this engrossing and highly entertaining book, here is the chance to don your waders and join two of Britain’s more absurd minds in a rambling treatise on life, near-death, and fishing.

The two comedians reflect on what it means to grow old and survive major health scares, having both been forced to face their own mortality following heart problems, with experienced angler Whitehouse taking the reins and bringing novice Mortimer on a tour of rivers and waterways in search of an array of fish.

Though most well-known for working with their respective comedy partners – Mortimer with Vic Reeves and Whitehouse with Harry Enfield – the pair’s easy-going friendship is both touching and meaningful, and full of the surreal humour you might expect from alumni of The Fast Show, Harry Enfield and Chums, Vic Reeves’ Big Night Out and Shooting Stars.

There’s enough angling knowledge, tips and details here for those who are interested in the actual fishing side of things, but the book also gives both authors the chance to recall significant parts of their lives, from childhood to the current day, and includes plenty of interesting snippets about their careers. Most notable, perhaps, are anecdotes about how both men met their comedy partners, and how they managed to pitch a TV show about two men standing around talking while unsuccessfully (for the most part) trying to catch fish.

The book’s real appeal, however, is the way in which their angling

THE ARSONIST

by Chloe Hooper

In 2009, the deadliest bushfires in the history of the Australian state of Victoria saw 180 people in the Latrobe Valley lose their lives in what has since been dubbed Black Saturday. While an extreme heat wave caused the majority of the 400 individual fires, two were

adventure provides the platform for them to share their reflections on finding a new lease of life and savouring the simplicity of it, as mirrored in their approach to hooking the catch of the day.

Blink Publishing, €26

deliberately lit by a man who then sat on his roof to watch his town burn. In this gripping true crime thriller, Chloe Hooper tells of the manhunt for the “firebug” responsible, while also delving into the mind of a pyromaniac and the complicated role fire plays in the Australian landscape.

Simon & Schuster, €21

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BOOK REVIEW

IRELAND’S WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, 1919-1921: The IRA’s Guerrilla Campaign

by Lorcan Collins

Given the year that’s in it, this timely outline of the fight for Irish independence following the tumultuous fallout of the 1916 Rising is an accessible read that will give a good understanding of the events that culminated in the creation of the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland following the AngloIrish Treaty. Amongst the details of bombings and violence lie stories of humanity, which help shine a ray of light over dark days.

O’Brien Press, €16.99

SHADOWPLAY

by Joseph O’Connor

t’s fair to say that travel writer Rosita Boland’s experiences visiting some of the more remote regions of the world over the last 30 years has enabled her to forge a unique insight into what it means to discover yourself in strange surroundings. While today we rely on GPS-enabled, Google-ready phones to get by abroad, for the experienced traveller this has not always been the case, and while Boland’s reflections on nine life-defining journeys give us an enjoyable look at each destination, they also show us that by immersing ourselves in the places we visit, we can not just find our way around, but find ourselves.

There has always been speculation in literary circles regarding Dracula author Bram Stoker’s relationship with Henry Irving, the famous Victorian actor the author served as manager at the Lyceum Theatre in London, with many seeing the thespian as a major inspiration for the titular character in Stoker’s masterpiece. This work of historical fiction touches neatly on this uneasy relationship, dramatising the double life of the author, who grew up a stone’s throw from the OBI in Marino, as he oversees the running of the theatre by day, while working on the novel that would make his name at night. An atmospheric reimagining of the creation of a classic.

Doubleday Ireland, €19.99

Harvill Secker, €15.99

ELSEWHERE:

One Woman, One Rucksack, One Lifetime of Travel

by Rosita Boland

I

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TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS

THE LATEST INNOVATIONS FOR THE WORLD’S EMERGENCY SERVICES.

SMOKE MAPPING A research institute in New Zealand is developing new ways to predict how wildfires will spread and their impact on nearby communities.

The tech research group Scion has been working alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand to test new smoke mapping technology in the Pigeon Valley region as part of a five-year project funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

Eventually, the goal will be to have this technology readily available on smart phones.

During testing scenarios, the smoke mapping model was described as “spot on” by Fire and Emergency rural fire manager Tim Mitchell.

Scion senior fire scientist Grant Pearce said the smoke mapping technology was also used for a recent large-scale fire in the Hampton Downs region, and was just one of the many components being used to create the most in-depth modelling tool to date, which will be accessible to responding agencies and the community.

"We're taking all of the information from the various sources, whether that be satellite fire detection, information on the vegetation types and the terrain on the ground, the latest weather forecast, to be able to predict more accurately where fires are likely to go and perhaps more importantly, what the potential impacts will be," he said.

STRESSREDUCING ALERT A student in Florida is developing a wearable wristband device that will help firefighters reduce their stress levels by easing them awake before their station alarm goes off.

Blake Richardson, the son of a firefighter, got the idea when his father told him about the lack of proper sleep that comes with the job, but particularly the heightened levels of stress and heart rate caused by being suddenly woken by a call out alarm.

EaseAwake, a device similar to a FitBit, is being developed to detect an advance warning signal and vibrate in the seconds before the station alarm activates, thus avoiding the jolt from deep sleep to immediate action.

“When you can mitigate that stress a little bit by having a physical alert, especially when they are in the middle of a deep sleep, will decrease their stress levels," Richardson said. "It's a stressful job, there is no changing that, but mitigating stress in any way we can, that's what I want to do."

The 21-year-old has won Florida state entrepreneurship awards for his idea and is working on developing a prototype, before testing will begin on firefighters to collect data that shows the benefits of his invention.

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TECHNOLOGY

HAZARD MONITOR A new in-phone tool to help firefighters record and provide evidence of workrelated exposures to help protect them against cancers and other occupational hazards has been made available in the US. The National Fire Operations Reporting System (NFORS) Exposure Tracker has been made available as a free app for firefighters to create a personal diary for logging exposure and incident details in a private, encrypted and secure online environment that can be accessed at any time, even in retirement.

Firefighters using the tracker can not only create a personal profile that is not accessible by their fire department, but can also register to be part of the National Firefighter Cancer Registry and other major firefighter cancer studies by opting-in to share exposure data with researchers.

Participating fire departments receive aggregate reports about overall exposure trends — not individual reports – but by linking their fire department to NFORS Analytics, firefighters’ incident data will automatically load into their personal exposure record without additional data entry.

“This tool will provide firefighters with the documentation they need to show on-the-job exposure to carcinogens and ensure they have the resources to get healthy and return to work,” says Harold A Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

INJURY DIAGNOSTICS

Following on from its “Elevate” concept car that allows emergency vehicles to “walk” across hazardous terrain, Hyundai has pioneered another new safety feature that could change the face of road safety and collision response.

The car manufacturer has teamed up with MDGo, a company specialising in medical artificial intelligence systems, to develop technology that will send emergency services information about probably injuries sustained in road

traffic accidents within seven seconds of impact.

Using sensors in the car and AI technology, the vehicle will be able to send emergency services a detailed analysis of potential injuries, communicated through medical terms, almost instantly after the crash.

The technology is designed to interpret collision data and compile numerous sets of insights regarding the occupants and the vehicle, which Hyundai hopes will give emergency

services the chance to assess the required scale of response and deploy appropriately skilled medical personnel before arriving at the scene.

“MDGo possesses exceptional AI analysis technology optimised for driver safety,” said Youngcho Chi, president and chief innovation officer at Hyundai.

“Through this technology, we expect a significant improvement in the emergency medical services of vehicles in the short-term, while our longterm goal is to provide innovations in passenger experience of vehicle safety utilising new technology that enables real-time physical monitoring.”

The new partnership will also help Hyundai enhance the active and passive safety capabilities of its vehicles, with big data gathered from detailed, intelligent analysis of multiple accident scenarios informing engineers on how to bolster crash structures and integrate new technologies to overcome issues identified by the AI analysis.

This process of “iterative enhancement” is facilitated by hospitals inputting real data on patients’ injuries, which the system compares to its prediction to further refine the analysis.

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