National Fire Safety Week 2008 Gets Underway Across County Clare

The main theme of National Fire Safety Week 2008, which runs from 6-13 October 2008, is "Fire Safety Is Your Safety".

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is hosting the seventh annual North-South initiative, in association with the National Safety Council and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.

Clare County Fire and Rescue Service is also hosting a series of local prevention activities to heighten fire safety awareness.

According to Mr. Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Officer, Clare County Fire and Rescue Service, stated, ‘This week we will be highlighting the importance of testing your smoke alarms weekly, having your escape route planned and knowing your obligations regarding fire safety in the home. We will also be requesting that schools and businesses to also undertake fire drills during the week.’

Throughout National Fire Safety Week 2008, Clare County Fire and Rescue Service will host open station nights at Ennistymon, Shannon, Ennis, Killaloe, Scariff, Kilkee and Kilrush where local fire fighters will be in attendance to offer advice and give out leaflets and posters in relation to fire prevention.

Open nights will take place at the following:
Ennistymon Fire Station, 7-9pm, Monday 6 October 2008
Shannon Fire Station, 7-9pm, Monday 6 October 2008
Ennis Fire Station, 7-9pm, Tuesday 7 October 2008
Kilrush Fire Station, 6.30-8.30pm, Wednesday 8 October 2008
Kilkee Fire Station, 7.30-9.30pm, Wednesday 8 October 2008
Scariff Fire Station, 6-8pm, Thursday 9 October 2008
Killaloe Fire Station, 7-9pm, Thursday 9 October 2008

The messages being promoted during Fire Safety Week include:
· Install smoke alarms in your home to give you an early warning, check your smoke alarm at least twice a year & Use long life lithium batteries with your smoke alarm if possible
· Close all your doors at night and check that electrical appliances are switched off.
· Avoid overloading electrical sockets
· Use an effective spark guard with open fires
· Clean your chimneys twice a year
· Keep a fire extinguisher and/or fire blanket nearby and know how to use them
· Use electric blankets sensibly – Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
· Make sure cigarettes are extinguished properly - Avoid smoking in bed
· In the event of a fire in your home Get Out, Stay Out And Call the Fire Brigade Out
· The phone number to call out the Fire Service is 999/112

Clare County Fire and Rescue Service is presently involved in numerous other Community Fire Safety Initiatives around the County. So far this year, firefighters have visited schools around the County giving Fire Safety Advice Sessions. The Programme is expected to continue in the 2008-09 school year.

Elsewhere, the Smoke Detector Programme for Venerable groups continues in partnership with Clare County Council's Community & Enterprise Section. Service Firefighters have made 107 Home Fire Safety visits in the Ennis, Kilrush and Shannon areas, with plans to conduct similar visits in Killaloe and Kilrush in October. The visits are used to raise awareness of Fire Safety, the use of smoke detectors and the prevention of accidental fire. Meanwhile, regular fire safety inspections also continue to be undertaken by Firefighters in hotels and nightclubs.

Clare County Fire and Rescue Service is currently made up of 12 Senior Fire Officers, 1 Wholetime Station Officer in Ennis and 77 Retained Firefighters in seven stations throughout Clare.

The Service fleet consists of 27 vehicles including twelve Class B Fire Appliances, three Water Tankers, two Emergency Tenders, two Aerial Rescue Vehicles and six 4-Wheel Drives. The Service also possesses four Spare Class B appliances and one Maintenance Van.

The Clare County Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters is located at Central Fire Station, New Road, Ennis, County Clare.

In the event of a fire in your home "Get Out, Stay Out And Call the Fire Brigade Out". The Fire Service can be contacted by dialling 999.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:
- Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Officer, Clare County Fire & Rescue Service is available for interview and/or further comment. Please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or email media@dunphypr.com.

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900