Tipperary Chief Fire Officer welcomes report
Tipperary's Chief Fire Officer Dave Carroll has welcomed the newly published 'Fire Safety in Ireland' report as the foundation for a rejuvenated fire safety regime, but cautions that it must be properly resourced if it is to be fully implemented.
Mr Carroll, Chairman of the Chief Fire Officers' Association (CFOA), said: “It is my hope, and indeed my belief, that this report will serve as the foundation stone for the development of a reinvigorated fire safety regime in Ireland.
“The key, as with all such reports, will lie in resourcing the work throughout the implementation phase, and maintaining this life-saving work on an ongoing basis afterwards.”
The 'Fire Safety in Ireland' report was produced by the task force formed by Minister for Planning, Housing and Local Government Eoghan Murphy in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire in London on June 14th last, which claimed 72 lives. Addressing the findings of the report, Mr Carroll said: “Inspections and surveys that have been carried out around the country to date by fire authorities since the Grenfell Tower Fire suggest that the conditions for a similar type disaster do not exist in this country.
“However, we do not live in a society free from risk. Coupled with sound fire safety engineering, this risk is best mitigated by people taking personal responsibility for their own safety and exercising appropriate behaviours with regard to fire safety,” he added. “Therefore implementing the recommendations of the 'Fire Safety in Ireland' report is significantly important.
“The CFOA welcome the proposed additional regulation under Section 37 of the Fire Services Acts that would require an identified person to be appointed in specified multi-occupancy premises that would ultimately be responsible for the implementation of precautions set out in relevant Codes of Practice and Guides to Fire Safety,” said the CFOA chairman.
“This report recommends that such a person, or persons having control, be supported with a guide prepared by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management so they are aware of their statutory duties and responsibilities and are assisted in complying with them. This is a move we certainly welcome.”
Mr Carroll continued: “Fire safety awareness campaigns have proved successful in the past and more co-ordinated national fire safety campaigns aimed at what are perceived as the vulnerable residential sectors is another welcome proposal in this report. Such fire safety campaigns may require available resources at both national and local level to be reallocated into this priority area.
“Fire safety is not just a matter for the fire service. For fire safety to be truly successful, it requires the buy-in of the community, public bodies and individuals. To this end, local authorities must work in an integrated fashion in exercising their various regulatory aspects on projects such as planning, building control and fire safety.”
“I look forward to the recommendations of the 'Fire Safety in Ireland' report being implemented and feel confident that the recommendations will lead to an enhanced level of fire safety for all of our citizens,” stated Mr Carroll. “I urge all those with any degree of influence to move forward in a positive and collaborative manner to deliver on the outcomes envisaged in the report. The Chief Fire Officers Association will not be found wanting on this front, and will work tirelessly to implement the recommendations.”