Fire crews out on 4x4s in the snow
IT has been an extremely busy few days for County Wicklow Fire Service with brigades and officers on duty across the county assisting those who became stuck or stranded in icy and snow conditions and calling to communities in need.
In many districts including Arklow, fire officers were mobile with the help fof 4X4 vehicles assisting motorists who drove into snow drifts.
‘The first weather related incident was a two-car road traffic collision at Tomdarragh near Roundwood at 11 a.m. The Fire Crew from Wicklow Town removed the side of the vehicle and assisted the ambulance service to remove a casualty.
Crews responded to a number of incidents over the coming days of electrical cables down and the fire service made these scenes safe awaiting the arrival of ESB crews who were attending a lot of similar incidents.
One of the most hazardous incidents attended was by the Blessington crew at 11 p.m. on Thursday, March 1. Motorists stranded on the N81 north of Blessington called the emergency services for assistance.
Over the next three hours the crew fought their way to the scene with the Gardai. Eventually with the assistance of a local plant contractor it was possible to get everyone back to Blessington.
Crews throughout the county assisted motorists who had difficulties or became stuck, for example Arklow Fire Crew assisted a motorist on the M11 at 9 a.m. on Friday when the car had slid into a snow drift. Thankfully, there were no injuries sustained.
In Wicklow Town, high tides and strong winds led to flooding from the sea on Friday afternoon. Fire Crews assisted local authority workers by pumping water from the affected area and positioned sandbags to protect properties.