Fire service chiefs to discuss future challenges

Challenges for the fire service in the 21st century will come under the spotlight in Dublin today.

The 50th Annual Chief Fire Officer’s Association (CFOA) Conference begins in the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney.

The conference is the major showcase for the fire and emergency sector to showcase technological and practical advancements as well as an opportunity for those in the industry to exchange information.

Gay Byrne, Chairman of the Road Safety Authority, will be among the keynote speakers at the two-day event, which is themed Ireland in the 21st Century - Challenges for the Fire Service.

Jim Dunphy, chairman of the Chief Fire Officer’s Association, will also address delegates and look to the challenges of the future.

He said the last 12 months had seen much activity at national level in the fire service with new initiatives under the Fire Services Change Programme (FSCP), which include a primary schools programme, pilot fire alarm project, incident command system, new major emergency management framework, and allocation of staff at Local Authority level.