Dublin Fire Brigade
Operational area | |
---|---|
Country | Ireland |
City | Dublin |
Agency overview | |
Employees | 900 |
Chief Fire Officer | Patrick Fleming |
Facilities and equipment | |
Stations | 14 |
Engines | 21 |
Platforms | 3 |
Rescues | 2 |
Ambulances | 12 |
HAZMAT | 2 |
Rescue boats | 2 |
Website | |
Official website |
The Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB; Irish: Briogáid Dóiteáin Átha Cliath) is the local authority fire and rescue service for Dublin City and the majority of the Greater Dublin Area. It is a branch of Dublin City Council. There are currently 14 fire stations manned by DFB, 12 of which are full-time, the other 2 are part-time or "retained". Full-time stations are manned by shifts across 4 watches, A, B, C & D. There are currently over 900 active personnel making it the largest fire service based on manpower and resources in Ireland.
History
Dublin City's first municipal fire engines were delivered in 1705. Throughout the second half of the 18th Century, insurance brigades were the primary source of firefighting for the city, operating independently for buildings bearing the mark of their respective insurance companies. Eventually the brigades began to co-operate on a competition basis with the first brigade on scene being the highest paid. It wasn't until 1862 with the enactment of the Dublin Corporation Act, that the city had an organised fire brigade. Dublin man J.R. Ingram became the first superintendent of the brigade, having worked as a fireman in New York and London. The brigade consisted of 24 men with a makeshift fire brigade station on Winetavern Street in The Liberties. In 1898 the Dublin Fire Brigade Ambulance Service was established. The turn of the century saw the brigade have its first fire stations and permanent headquarters built, with the first motorised fire engine coming on stream in 1909.
Stardust fire
In the early hours of 14 February 1981, Dublin Fire Brigade received a call reporting a fire in the Stardust nightclub in Artane. Units were dispatched from both Kilbarrack fire station and North Strand fire station. When the firemen arrived they were met with scenes of panic, disorder and suffering at what would turn out be one of the worst fire disasters in the history of the state. 48 people died and 214 people were injured as a result of the fire.
Fire Stations/Appliances
Station Callsign | Station Name | Duty System | Appliances |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | Donnybrook | Wholetime | 2x WtL, 1x WrC*, 1x CIU*, 1x DO, 1x AMB |
#2 | Dolphins Barn | Wholetime | 2x WtL, 1x ET, 1x DO, 1x AMB |
#3 | Phibsboro | Wholetime | 2x WtL, 1x WrC*, 1x ET, 1x DO, 1x AMB, 1x PM* for: 1x BFU, 1x MIU |
#4 | North Strand | Wholetime | 2x WtL, 1x TRV, 1x DO, 1x AMB |
#5 | Finglas | Wholetime | 1x WtL, 1x DO, 1x AMB |
#6 | Kilbarrack | Wholetime | 1x WtL, 1x PM+WSU*, 1x DO, 1x AMB |
#7 | Tallaght | Wholetime | 2x WtL, 1x AMB |
#8 | Rathfarnham | Wholetime | 1x WtL, 1x AMB |
#9 | Blanchardstown | Wholetime | 1x WtL, 1x AMB |
#10 | Tara Street/HQ | Wholetime | 2x WtL, 2x TL, 1x WrC*, 1x FEU*, 1x ISU*, 1x CSU* 1x ICCU*, 2x L4V, 2x IrbT, 1x DO, 2x APRU, 2x AMB |
#12 | Dun Laoghaire | Wholetime | 2x WtL, 1x ALP, 1x PM+HRU* |
#13 | Swords | Wholetime | 1x WtL, 1x AMB |
#23 | Balbriggan | Retained | 1x WtL |
#24 | Skerries | Retained | 1x WtL |
Fire Appliance Glossary/Callsigns
- Water Tender Ladder (WtL): D11, D12, D21, D22, D31, D32, D41, D42, D51, D61, D71, D72, D81, D91, D101, D102, D121, D122, D131, D231, D241
- Water Carrier (WrC): D19, D39, D109
- Turntable Ladder (TL): D106, D107
- Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP): D126
- Emergency Tender (ET): D25, D35
- Tunnel Response Vehicle (TRV): D45
- Chemical Incident Unit (CIU): D113
- Command Support Unit (CSU): CS2
- Incident Command Unit (DICU)
- Incident Support Unit (ISU): D108
- Foam & Environmental Unit (FEU): D43
- Foam Support Unit (FSU): D103
- Personnel Carrier Vehicle (PCV): D108
- Inshore Rescue Boat (IrbT)
- Prime Mover + HAZMAT Response Unit (PM+HRU): D123
- Prime Mover + Water Support Unit (PM+WSU): D63
- Prime Mover (PM): D33
For Pods:
- Bulk Foam Unit (BFU)
- Major Incident Unit (MIU)
- District Officer's (DO): A, B, C, D, E, F
Emergency Ambulance Service Glossary/Callsigns
- Advance Paramedic Response Unit (APRU): EMT-A1
- Advanced Paramedic Response Unit (ARPU): EMT-A2
- Ambulance (AMB): D14, D24, D34, D44, D54, D64, D74, D84, D94, D104, D114, D134
Dublin Fire Brigade, operates 12 Ambulances and 2 Advanced Paramedics response vehicles, as shown above. With all Operational Fire Fighters rotating between Fire and Ambulance duties. Fire Fighters are registed Paramedics with the Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council. In addition to the Ambulances, there are 2 Part Time Advanced Paramedics response vehicles, Fire Appliances may also respond to some medical calls, but usually to Cardiac Arrests or cases where multiple paramedics is advantageous such as suspected spinal injuries or patients in inaccessible areas.
Training centre and museum
The Dublin Fire Brigade Training Centre is located at the O'Brien Institute on the Malahide Road, Marino, Dublin 3. Recruit firefighter training as well as Paramedic training and specialised courses are held here. The centre also provides various other training courses such as fire marshal training and first aid training to private companies and individuals.[1] The Dublin Fire Brigade museum is also situated at the O'Brien Institute and can be visited by appointment.[2]
Gallery
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The Dublin Fire Brigade Training Centre at the O'Brien Institute. -
Dublin Fire Brigade headquarters on Townsend Street. -
Dolphin's Barn Fire Station (Bravo District) in Dublin 12. -
Pump bay of a Dennis RS series WrL. -
Thomas Street Fire Brigade Station (now part of NCAD). -
The crest of the Dublin Fire Brigade. -
A 2009 Scania Water Ladder Appliance of Dublin Fire Brigade. -
Dublin Fire Brigade Emergency Ambulance arriving at St. James's Hospital with a patient.
See also
- History of the Republic of Ireland
- PHECC
- Garda Síochána
- HSE National Ambulance Service
- List of fire departments
- Civil Defence Ireland
- Irish Coast Guard
References
- ↑ "Dublin Fire Brigade External Training". Dublin Fire Brigade. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
- ↑ "Dublin Fire Brigade Museum". Dublin Fire Brigade. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
External links
- Dublin Fire Brigade External Training
- Dublin Fire Brigade Museum
- Dublin Fire Brigade on Irish Fire Services resource website
- "Dublin City Fire Brigade page". Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council