Tag Archives: fire

THERE were celebrations today at Shannon Airport as nine new Airport Police and Fire Service (APFS) recruits joined the team. The recruits, who began their training in January, celebrated their passing out, in the company of their loved ones at the Shannon Airport Fire Station. The nine recruits underwent a three-month intensive training programme which now equips them to work in the combined role of airport police and fire personnel at Shannon Airport. Part of the specialist training programme has taught the fire service graduates how to battle Jet A1 aviation fuel fires which can reach up to 1000 degrees Celsius. Their response time to an incident must be under three minutes. Congratulating the new APFS graduates and presenting them with medals of achievement, Mary Considine, CEO, Shannon Group said: “We are delighted to celebrate the passing out of our latest intake of firefighters. They are joining a service with a great history and tradition. One that is professional in …

FIRE crews have dealt with a fire at an ESB sub-station on the outskirts of Ennis this afternoon, reports Pat Flynn. An explosion and fire were reported at the building in the Doora Industrial Estate at around 1.30pm. Workers reported hearing a large bang and seeing smoke billowing from the concrete structure. Two units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station responded to the incident along with Gardaí. On arrival, firefighters could see thick smoke being emitted from the building above its metal doors where a gap is believed to have been created by the explosion. Firefighters were however unable to open the doors and tackle the blaze until ESB Networks engineers were contacted and arrived at the scene. ESB crews also had to disconnect power from the local area before firefighters could safely approach the building. When cleared to do so, fire service personnel wearing breathing apparatus were able to unlock the metal doors and begin …

A LIFE-SAVING dog who helped its owner escape from a devastating fire has been hailed as a ‘Clare Covid Hero’. Former county councillor and well-known Clarecastle man Bernard Hanrahan narrowly escaped with his life after his home was engulfed in flames late last year. Bernard, known locally as the Bomber, was saved after being alerted to the blaze at his home in Barntick by his beloved dog Daisy’s incessant barking in the early hours of the morning. Daisy has now been named among the winners of the Clare Covid Hero award celebrating the county’s everyday heroes who have been supporting others during the pandemic. Luckily nobody was injured in the fire, however the house, which had been in the family for three generations, was extensively damaged and priceless photographs and memorabilia have been lost. The award certificate was presented to Daisy this week by Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Mary Howard, who also had a surprise for Bernard. She was …

AN Ennis woman was just minutes from death after her home in Oak Park caught on fire on the day of her birthday last week. Ciara Hayes’ life was saved when she was woken in her smoke-filled home by neighbours desperately banging on her front door and trying to get to her. She describes herself as “very, very lucky” as she thanks her neighbours for helping her to escape. It is believed that the fire was started by a candle which had been left lit overnight, and following her frightening experience Ciara is warning others to ensure all candles are extinguished properly. Ciara is now back at work in her hairdressing and beauty business Trifecta after spending two days in hospital receiving treatment. “The fire started on May 4, My cat died two weeks ago and I had lit a candle the night before beside her picture. It was one of those safety candles in the container. Normally I would …

A WEST Clare family are struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss of their home, after it was completely gutted by fire on St Patrick’s night. The blaze broke out at the home of Dympna Devereux of Clonmore, Ballynacally, shortly after 8pm on March 17. Despite the valiant efforts of family, neighbours and the fire service, the house was completely destroyed, with the loss of all of Dympna’s belongings including many items of sentimental value to the family. Dympna’s niece, Karen Dinan, has now started a fundraising campaign to contribute to the rebuilding effort. “Thank God nobody was injured,” said Dympna’s son Damien. “We are so thankful for that, because it could have been so much worse and we’re really do realise that not everyone is so lucky in these situations. The house belonged to my grandparents originally. My father was born there, so there’s a huge sentimental value for all of us, but especially my mother. Myself …

A FORMER member of Clare County Council says he is lucky to have escaped with his life, after a fire destroyed his family home in Clarecastle. Bernard Hanrahan, an active member of the community and former Fianna Fáil representative on the local authority, awoke in the early hours of last Sunday morning to find his home in flames. He told The Champion that if it wasn’t for the fact his dog alerted him to the danger, he might not have escaped the blaze. Bernard, who lives alone in the home where he was born and raised, credits his faithful bison frise with saving him. “It was around 5am when I heard Daisy barking,” he said. “She wouldn’t normally be looking to get out until around 7.30am. I knew something was wrong. I got up and then heard a bang. I thought straight away that someone was trying to break in. When I got close to the kitchen, I was hit with …

EMERGENCY services are currently at the scene of a fire close to Doolough Lake in West Clare. Fire control has confirmed that they were alerted to the blaze at around 1.20pm. Two appliances, a jeep and a water carrier are at the scene. The nature of the fire is now yet known.

SHANNON Airport was closed to aircraft for four and a half hours this morning, but it could have been much worse but for the fact a fire on board a plane was quickly spotted and extinguished. Director of Operations at Shannon Airport Niall Maloney said that the response began at 6.15am. “We were alerted by air traffic control to an issue with an aircraft that we responded to. We were responding to smoke in the undercarriage but it developed into a fire.” The aircraft in question was an Omni Boeing 767-300 which had travelled from America to Shannon and was due to go onwards to the Middle East. While Omni typically use Shannon to transport troops, there has not been confirmation as to whether or not troops were on board the plane on this occasion. There were 145 passengers and 14 crew on board the aircraft at the time and Mr Maloney said they were all uninjured. “One passenger may …