Galway Fire and Rescue Service reported an unusually busy weekend for outdoor fires, during the especially warm weather last weekend, with temperatures reaching 25C across the county.
One unresponsive casualty was evacuated by ambulance after a fire on the patio of a rooftop apartment in Liosbán was tackled by three appliances and a hydraulic ladder truck on Monday, with huge plumes of smoke visible from the four-storey building as far away as County Clare.
The man with smoke-inhalation injuries regained consciousness in hospital. It took fire fighters more than two hours to make the scene safe at the Royal Court Business Centre near Kennys bookshop and art galleries in the Liosbán industrial estate
Fire engines from Galway city, Gort, Carraore, Ballinrobe, Portumna and Loughrea, assisted by Fire Service water tanker trucks, and helicopters leased to Coilte equipped with collapsible water buckets, responded to a number of bog, gorse and forest fires described as “significant” incidents by the county’s Chief Fire Officer, Gerry O’Malley, over the weekend.
Crews from across County Galway battled forest fires until midnight on Saturday at Lough Atorick near Derrybrien in the Sliabh Aughty mountains, assisted by a helicopter.
Crews from Mayo and Galway, and two Coilte helicopters, responded to forest fires at the Hill of Doon, in Glann, Oughterard, on Saturday. No access by road meant personnel were forced to bring equipment in on foot.
Fire fighters also responded to bog fires in Camus, Cill Chiaráin, Roundstone, Spiddal and Maam Cross from 7am on Saturday morning, to 10.30pm at night.
On Sunday, Galway Fire Service responded to outdoor fires at Moyglass, Casla, Silverstrand in Barna, on land next to the Quincentenary Bridge in Galway city, and a serious bin fire on Merchants Road.
Two people were rescued from the River Corrib by officers in the city centre over the weekend, and the Fire & Rescue Service responded to several Road Traffic accidents between Friday and Sunday, including a serious incident on the M18 near Kilternan on Sunday afternoon involving a flipped vehicle, with two people hospitalised.
“We are all out enjoying the very warm weather, but I urge the public when outdoors to be conscious of the risks associated with this really dry spell,” says Galway’s fire chief, Gerry O’Malley. “Barbecues, naked flames, and even a discarded cigarette, can create significant risks.”
O’Malley said vegetation is “tinder dry” at present, and occasional showers are only keeping dust down rather than reducing fire risks. “Wind when it’s dry is the big risk, as sparks can create secondary fires. What we need is a good, heavy rain for a few hours, as showers are not really moisturising the combustible material.”
County Galway has 10 fire stations, although only the service’s HQ on Fr Griffin Road is a “whole-time” facility. Stations in Athenry, Loughrea, Tuam, Ballinsaloe, Mountbellew, Portumna, Gort, Clifden, Cill Rónáin and An Cheathrú Rua are staffed by retained firefighters who often work other jobs, but respond to emergencies when called.
