Detailed plans announced to tackle chimney fires and false alarms

COUNTY WEXFORD Fire Service officials announced detailed plans to reduce chimney fires and false alarms in the county at the recent meeting of New Ross Municipal District council.

Assitant Chief Fire Officer Neil O’Grady said there are a lot more chimney fires and false alarms in County Wexford than in most other counties. Mr O’Grady said on average one person dies in a fatal fire in the county every year, with most incidences involving elderly men. ‘Most fatal fires are in the home. We carried out a risk assessment and created a policy and we are planning to do lots of activities over the coming years,’ he said.

County Wexford has slightly more house fires than the average in other counties and between 300 and 400 of the calls to the fire service are false alarms.

‘A lot of this can be prevented,’ he said.

Areas like Bannow and the Hook are further than the recommended 20 minutes from a fire station. Mr O’Grady said the fire service will be concentrating on prevention methods in these areas, adding that a fire alarm is the best form of prevention.

‘ There are areas that are a good distance from fire stations. To negate that we will be trying to instill education in people on how to prevent fires in these areas.’

He said there are still a significant number of houses potentially without a smoke alarm. ‘ They are cheap and easy to install. We will go out to people’s homes and install the smoke alarms for them.’

He said an educational programme begins from 3rd Class up.

Another action planned for the area will see a chimney sweep visit one estate where chimney fires occur regulalry and clean all the chimneys.

Mr O’Grady said false alarms generally occur when there is an electrical issue and the Phone Watch are contacted. People have also mistaken steam for smoke and contacted the fire service.

The average cost of a call out is €1,000 the meeting heard.

Mr O’Grady said call outs to false alarms are a waste of time and cost money.

Elderly people living alone will be contacted through the new fire service plan and smoke alarm surveys will be carried out.

‘Occasionally you will have a fire through no fault of your own, like when a dishwasher goes on fire. Make sure there is a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and there is an easy escape route. Also know where your keys are.’

Replying to a question from cathaoirleach Cllr Willie Fitzharris on alarms’ battery power, Mr O’Grady said most are mains powdered.

He said there are very few malicious false alarm calls. ‘A lot of it is technical equipment. The fire alarm equipment may not be serviced, checked and maintained. The key holder may not answer his phone and PhoneWatch will be alerted.’

Cllr Michael Whelan expressed concern that elderly men are often the victims of fatal fires.

He said the HSE and elderly groups could help to get the fire safety message out.

‘It’s a hard group to reach,’ Mr O’Grady acknowledged.

Cllr Larry O’Brien said the chimney sweep plan should be rolled out to rural villages.

Chief Fire Officer Paul L’Estrange said the plan will be rolled out, while Senior Housnig Officer Padraig O’Gorman said: ‘ The cleaning of chimneys is the tenant’s responsibility.’

He said €10,000 has been allocated by Wexford County Council towards inspecting chimneys and cleaning them.

‘We are targeting red hot areas for firess.’

Mr L’Estrange said: ‘ There is only a certain budget. We will consider areas where there is a particular need.’

Cllr John Fleming said there are council tenants putting stoves into houses when the chimney is not suitably limed. ‘ They are burning the wrong material and damaging the chimney.’

Cllr O’Brien said: ‘ The majority of chimney fires are in council houses. There is no charge for a call out to a fire in a council house and to pensioners. We have to pay €1,000 and we can’t claim that back off the insurance so education is the answer to this. While I agree with what you are doing. I would say you should be doing more of it. I would be picking the oldest estates in the district. They are more dangerous with the building regulations at the time of their construction so the danger of fire is bigger.’

Cllr O’Brien said 3rd Class waas too young for the educational programme.

Cllr Anthony Connick said: ‘I just think it’s a great idea; planting a seed at whatever age. It’s great for people to see you out in communities, like during a festival. I think it’s an absolutely fantastic thing that you are doing.’

He asked what is the furthest distance New Ross Fire Service responds to call outs and was told by Mr L’Estrange that this is under review but there are plans to have the closest service to any fire respond, including across county boundary lines.