Carlow fire service adds new all-terrain vehicle to tackle wildfires

CARLOW County Fire and Rescue Service has added a new specialised vehicle to its fleet to help tackle wildfires more effectively.

The new all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is a specialised 4x4 vehicle fuelled by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

As fire crews continue to battle a major wildfire in Slievenamon, Tipperary, the need for new technology and equipment to tackle such blazes has never been greater.

The ATV will allow the fire service to cross rough terrain quickly and access areas that fire engines, weighed down with up to 1,800 litres of water, cannot reach.

Members of Bagenalstown Fire Station crew have already received specialised off-road training in how to operate the vehicle which is equipped with a 250-litre water tank, fire pump and 50m hose with a nozzle reach of 20 metres.

“In Carlow, we have had to deal with yearly fires up Mount Leinster and across the Blackstairs Mountains,” said acting chief fire officer Ben Woodhouse. “We can deploy this vehicle off-road and it can carry three firefighters and 250 litres of water — about the equivalent of 28 minutes of water.” Previously, firefighters tackling wildfires would have had to walk long distances carrying 20-litre backpacks, which hold less than a tenth of the ATV’s water capacity.

The ATV will work alongside new firefighting technology, such as backpack blowers and thermal imaging drones, allowing the service to survey large areas quickly.

“We can get the drone up in minutes to find the fire and aid the navigation of the ATV to the area, while maintaining aerial top cover to monitor fire direction and firefighter safety,” he explained.

Mr Woodhouse said the fire service is prioritising improvements to its wildfire response capabilities as such fires become more frequent. Officers have attended specialised courses over recent months.

“There is very limited wildland firefighting training in Ireland. Historically, we wouldn’t have had many fires due to our climate, but that is now changing and has become a new challenge for fire services.

“Carlow County Council sent four officers to attend a specialised wildland and forestry firefighting course in Poland in June to look at new training, tactics and equipment.

“They heard from officers across the world, including locations such as Spain and California, where they have extensive experience of dealing with wildland and forestry fires,” he added.