North-South Fire Safety Week launched

A joint north-south Fire Safety Week has been launched today by the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade and the Republic of Ireland’s National Safety Council.

‘Fire, Our Community at Risk’ aims to raise public awareness of fire safety issues, and in particular, the higher risk to the very young and elderly people living alone.

This is the third year the joint initiative has taken place and although local Health Minister Angela Smith couldn’t attend today’s launch she recorded a video message praising the initiative.

“This year’s theme is ‘Fire - Our Community at Risk’ and over the coming week, the Fire Services will be highlighting consequences of not taking the threat of fire seriously,” the Minister said.

“I fully support this initiative and the work of the Fire Brigades. I endorse this campaign and look forward to seeing a continued reduction of fire incidents and, more importantly, a reduction in the number of fire deaths and injuries.”

Joint Fire Safety Week was one of the initiatives developed by the Cross Border Working Group set up to identify areas of cross border co-operation and joint working on fire services.

The first joint Fire Safety Week, co-hosted by the NI Fire Brigade and the National Safety Council of the Republic of Ireland, took place in November 2002, and was launched at the Fire Service Training Centre in Dublin.

(MB/GMCG)