Carlow Fire Service hosts international chiefs in professional exchange programme
Carlow fire officers alongside fire chief Darrell Duty from Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department, Arizona, USA and chief fire officer Markus Green from Räddningstjänsten Fyrbodal, Sweden
FIRE chiefs from the United States and Sweden visited Carlow last week as part of a professional exchange programme linking fire and rescue services across the three countries.
Fire chief Darrell Duty of Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department in Arizona, and chief fire officer Markus Green of Räddningstjänsten Fyrbodal in Sweden, accepted an invitation to travel to Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service for the visit, which formed part of the Tempe Sister Cities programme.
The exchange was initiated following assistant chief fire Officer Ben Woodhouse’s trip to Tempe, Arizona in October 2025, when he travelled alongside Mayor of Carlow cllr Paul Doogue and leas cathaoirleach cllr Daniel Pender as part of the Sister Cities initiative. On their return, work began to establish a formal professional exchange between the three services.
During their time in Carlow, the visiting chiefs toured Carlow Fire Station, including its fleet and equipment, and met with Carlow fire officers. Each chief delivered a presentation on their respective fire authority and the challenges involved in delivering modern fire and rescue services.
The programme also included a visit to the Fire Services Learning & Development Centre in Hacketstown, where the group observed a compartment fire behaviour training exercise alongside Kildare Fire Service, as well as a tour of how carbonaceous contaminants are managed at the facility. The delegation also visited HPMP Fire Ltd and attended a Tullow Municipal District meeting, where acting chief fire office Woodhouse presented to elected members.
Key areas of learning during the exchange included managing fires in battery energy storage systems and electric vehicles, tackling wildland fires, handling carbonaceous contaminants and carcinogens in training and at operational incidents, and reducing the environmental impact of fire service activities.
The visiting chiefs also took part in Pan Celtic International Festival activities during their stay, including a tour of South East Technological University (SETU) Carlow and a hurling lesson. Chief Duty took part in a panel discussion at the festival on the delivery of Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Service and shared reflections on his visit to Carlow.
Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service said the exchange had been a “fantastic experience” for all three chiefs and their services, with “extensive discussions and exchanges of good practices”. The service confirmed the programme will continue through online meetings between the three services to explore further opportunities for shared learning.
