How do I call the Fire Brigade?

If you encounter a fire, a road traffic accident or other emergency dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Fire Brigade, giving your name and address including County.  You will be put through to an operator at the Regional Fire Control Centre who will confirm your address and mobilize the appropriate Fire Brigade.  In rural areas, please give the exact Townland if you know it.   If you are driving along a road and don’t know exactly where you are, ask a local person for the exact address and give it to the operator.  If this isn’t an option, name the last town you passed through or the next town you are approaching and estimate your distance from the towns.

Responding to Emergency Calls

Emergency calls for Waterford County Fire & Rescue Service are directed to the Munster Regional Control Centre.  On receipt of an emergency call, from the telecom operator, the Control Centre will mobilise Brigades in a pre-defined order depending on the address.  Turnouts to calls are determined on a risk basis i.e. the nearest brigades respond to the address given.  Fire Fighters are alerted by pager that an emergency call has been received and they are required to attend at the fire station.   In Waterford County a Fire brigade will respond to a call within approximately 5 minutes.

Charges for the Fire Service

There is no charge for a call out to a house fire but charges apply to all other instances when the Fire Brigade is called, including road traffic collisions, chimney fires and special services.   Even false alarms and responding to investigate automatic fire alarm activation is charged.   Householders should ensure that fire alarms and detectors are regularly serviced and maintained in good working order to ensure that the Fire Brigade is not called out unnecessarily.    The current scale of charges can be viewed here:

Fire Service Call Out Charges 2011 (Word.doc, 31 kbs)  

 

Waiver Scheme for Fire Charges

The Council operates a waiver scheme which provides for a reduction of call out charges (up to 100% in some instances) for persons or households on reduced income.   Waiver forms may be obtained from Fire Service Headquarters, Dungarvan.  Details of the current scheme may be viewed here:

Waiver Scheme for Fire Charges 2011 (Word.doc, 30 kbs)  

 

False Alarms

It is an offence to knowingly make a false alarm call to the emergency services.  All false alarm calls to Waterford County Fire and Rescue Service are investigated by the Gardaí.