Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service callouts

Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service attended 259 emergency calls in the first two months of 2019.

The service operates a Community Smoke Alarm Scheme in conjunction with Community Alert Groups, Neighbourhood Watch Schemes, Gardaí, HSE and other local community and voluntary groups. The aim of the scheme is to identify those that are most vulnerable from fire in the community and ensure that they are protected by smoke alarms.

As vulnerable households are identified, arrangements are made for two firefighters to visit the household, complete a home fire safety checklist with the occupant(s), fit a minimum of two smoke alarms and provide a smoke alarm 'testing stick'. 2018 saw a dramatic increase in home fire safety checks from the previous year, from 82 to 789. This was largely down to public advertising of the scheme on social media, local radio, local newspapers and the Tipperary Co Council website.
Of these 789 home fire safety checks, 1,392 new smoke alarms were fitted to homes across the county. 56% of these houses had no working smoke alarm before the home check was carried out, and over 64% of houses checked and found to be without a working smoke alarm were found to be occupied by persons living alone, predominately in rural areas. It is planned to maintain this level of activity again in 2019.