COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, November 22, 2021

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

''To ask the CEO to seek a report from the Chief Fire Officer that Tallaght Fire Station has the capability and capacity to deal with fires in high rise apartment blocks; will he also ask for the provision of an Aerial Platform at Tallaght Fire Station and seek assurances on the whole issue?'' 

REPLY:

Tallaght Fire Station operates with a complement of two fire engines and one ambulance which are permanently crewed by full-time firefighters, who work in four shifts or “watches”.

DFB aerial appliances, also known as turntable ladders or Hydraulic platforms are vehicles with extending ladders and platforms enabling firefighters to work at heights of up to 32 metres.  An aerial appliance review is being undertaken and this is being considered in two phases. The first phase relates to revisions to the crewing arrangements for the aerial appliance based at Fire Brigade HQ and in Dun Laoghaire Fire Stations. The second phase, which will be undertaken next and will consider the location and number of aerial appliances required.  Dublin Fire Brigade has three aerial appliances which have high-reach capability – two turntable ladders based at HQ and an aerial platform appliance at Dun Laoghaire.
Although they are based at specific locations, they provide cover across the City and County.  This service delivery model is an established method of resourcing aerial appliances and is common to many other fire and rescue services in this country and internationally.