State-Of-The-Art Incident Command Unit For Mid West Region

Clare County Fire and Rescue Service today (Friday, 27 January 2012) took delivery of a state-of-the-art Incident Command Unit that will be deployed to large fire incidents and other major emergencies throughout the Mid West Region.

The 273,000 euro vehicle, which is described as a command and control office on wheels, will be based at Shannon Town Fire Station and will provide a “Command Support Role” primarily to the Local Authority Emergency Services in Clare, North Tipperary, and Limerick City and County.  The vehicle is one of two such Units to be located in Munster.

Welcoming the delivery of the Incident Command Unit, Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes said the new vehicle will significantly enhance the ability of Fire Services throughout the Region to deal with emergency incidents.

“I am delighted to see that investment in our local Fire Service is continuing despite the current fiscal constraints, and that emergency personnel are being delivered the necessary resources to allow them to respond to emergency incidents with maximum efficiency”, he added.

The Unit, described by officials as “a command and control office on wheels”, is built on a Volvo Truck Chassis that includes a Meeting Room and Communications Area, together with Satellite and 3G communications systems.

Mr. Adrian Kelly, Clare County Chief Fire Officer noted that the Incident Command Unit will provide Clare County Fire and Rescue Service with the most up-to-date equipment and technology. He said it would further assist the Fire Service and other Emergency Services throughout the Region in implementing the National Incident Command System to the highest standards in Ireland.

“The National Incident Command System provides for the safe, effective and efficient management and deployment of resources, both human and material at all types of emergency incidents”, Mr. Kelly explained.

The Incident Command Unit was fully financed by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to the sum of €273,894.50.

According to Mr. Kelly: “Clare County Council was initially engaged to procure a number of these vehicles for different areas in the country. However, due to a reduction in finances, two Units were designed and procured before being issued to Clare and Cork County.  While a number of counties have vehicles for similar purposes, these are the most advanced in the Fire Service in Ireland.”