No plans for chainsaws at crash scenes

March 2010

THERE ARE no plans to use chainsaws at traffic accident scenes in County Wicklow.

Wicklow’s Chief Fire Officer Jim Dunphy says the use of chainsaws presents a lot of problems and will not be advocating their use.

Speaking to Wicklow County Council, Mr. Dunphy referred to the recent serious accident in Rathdrum in which a passing car was crushed under a tree prompting concerns that the victim could have been released more quickly with the use of such equipment.

‘That incident saw the person out of the car in 17 minutes. The issue of saws has been debated a lot and it is an issue of safety.

‘They present a lot of problems. Often there is energy caught up in the trees and where a casualty is involved there is no guarantee this will make the situation better.’

He said it would cost €1,000 per firefighter to be trained in the use of chainsaws and a further €10,000 would be needed for equipment.

‘Speaking from experience I have never been in favour of using them and I am aware that some counties are in fact trying to phase them out. Having made clear my opinion on this I could not support their use,’ he said.