Fire Brigade Anniversary Stamps Blaze a Trail!
27 June 2012
The four new 55c stamps by Dublin’s Zinc Design show the many roles that fire fighting crews play in emergency situations, including fires in premises, road accidents, water rescue and chemical fires. The scenes were captured duringtraining simulations.
The four new 55c stamps and a commemorative Prestige Booklet full of interesting images and information as well as four of each of the stamps (€10) are available at main post offices, online at www.irishstamps.ie or by calling (01) 705 7400.
The Fire Service is a cornerstone of our emergency services and Dublin Fire Brigade answers over 133,000 fire, ambulance and rescue calls every year.
Established in 1862, the Fire Brigade began with just 24 firemen who operated from a fire station based in Whitehorse Yard, Dublin 8. Working under the Chief Fire Officer of the day, J.R. Ingram, the firemen did a dangerous job under tough conditions. Operating horse-drawn Merryweather fire tenders up until 1925, they relied on manual water pumps to quench fires. With advances in engineering, steam fire engines were soon introduced and in 1909 the fire brigade received its first motor pump engine.
Serving 1.2 million people, the modern Dublin Fire Brigade operates 20 fire engines, specialist appliances and 12 ambulances. Chief Fire Officer, Stephen Brady oversees the operation of 1,000 personnel crewing 12 stations on a 24 hour, seven day week basis (and two fire stations on a retained basis). Firefighters are also fully trained to deal with hazardous and chemical materials. Dublin Fire Brigade is one of the few fire services in the world whose members are fully trained paramedics. In 2011, the service dealt with 127 water rescues and provided assistance with flooding relief and evacuation.
Chief Fire Officer Stephen Brady said that all Dublin Fire Brigade staff past and present are proud to be honoured through these commemorative stamps in this special year: “Dublin Fire Brigade has a long and proud tradition of serving the citizens of Dublin city and county since 1862. Our 150th Anniversary gives us the opportunity to celebrate all aspects of our service and to remind Irish people everywhere to stay safe and take every precaution where fire, flammable materials and safety are concerned”
Note:
Fire Safety and Prevention is also a priority for the brigade and Senior Fire Prevention Officers carry out building inspections and issue Fire Safety Notices to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations.
Road Accident Emergency
- If you are first on the scene of an accident, park safely and warn others with hazard lights; use a hazard triangle if available
- Remain calm and attempt to safely determine how many people and vehicles are involved and establish the exact location
- Do not move casualties - you may cause further injury
- Dial 999 or 112
Firefighting
- Smoke Alarms Save Lives – Test yours regularly
- Plan Your Evacuation – Practice your plan with your family regularly
- Close all doors at night – closed doors restrict the spread of smoke and fire
- In the event of fire: Stay close to the ground; Get out & Stay out: Dial 999 or 112
Water Rescue
- Never interfere with life-saving equipment – Report damaged or missing ringbuoys on www.ringbuoys.ie
- Only use designated safe swimming areas with life-guards on duty
- Always wear a properly fitting life jacket during water sport activities
- If you see someone in difficulty never attempt a rescue; Use low risk rescue options – Talk, Reach, Throw, Row – Dial 999 or 112
Chemical Fires
- Treat chemicals with respect: If in doubt get the Fire Brigade out - Dial 999 or 112
- Keep a safe distance from any chemical substance or container: Retrieve the identification code if it’s visible
- In the event of a chemical spill or emergency: Stay indoors & keep all windows and doors closed
- Tune into radio and TV and comply fully with all evacuation requests
