Providing 24/7 emergency response coverage, Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service operates from fire stations in Carlow Town, Bagenalstown, Tullow and Hacketstown, responding to a wide range of incidents including building fires, vehicle fires, gorse and forestry fires, road traffic collisions, river rescues and Major Emergencies.
The introduction of thermal imagery drones marks a significant step forward and enhances the ongoing commitment to advanced technology used within the Fire Service to provide a safer, faster and more effective emergency response.
The drone’s thermal imagery capability will allow fire crews to identify sources of heat at fires, such as large buildings, gorse and forestry fires which the County Fire Service attend. The same lifesaving technology is used by the Irish Coast Guard and Civil Defence in search and rescue missions and could be instrumental in locating missing persons in challenging environments and along the River Barrow and the River Slaney that both flow through Carlow.
Following severe weather events such as storms, flooding, and snow, drones can be rapidly deployed and have the capability to scan large areas in a short space of time, this is valuable in ensuring resources are deployed where required.
Signs will be in use at emergency scenes to notify members of the public that drone technology is in use
Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Lally also spoke at the launch today.
Members of Carlow Fire and Rescue who were at the launch of the Thermal Imagery Drones.
Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Ken Murnane spoke to KCLR News’ Dermot Keyes about the importance of the new fleet that would be used by all stations in Carlow.
