The new Fire Station in Dunmurry becomes operational today (Friday 1st February 2008), Minister for Public Safety Michael McGimpsey has announced.

 

The new station will enhance community fire safety work and also emergency cover in the greater Dunmurry area, including Poleglass, Twinbrook, Lagmore and Seymour Hill.

 

During a visit to the station, the Minister said:  “I am delighted by this development. Firefighters will now be present in the Dunmurry area carrying out community fire safety work as well as responding to emergency incidents. The station will be a convenient place for local people to go for advice and information on fire safety.”

 

The Minister added: “This new station in Dunmurry is one of a number being taken forward by the Fire and Rescue Service in an infrastructure development programme.”

 

Located in a converted unit within City Business Park in Dunmurry, the new station is an interim solution for community fire safety and emergency response in the area, pending the outcome of a review of all Fire Stations and resources in the Greater Belfast area which NIFRS is carrying out. 

 

A fire crew and fire appliance from Cadogan Fire Station (Lisburn Road, Belfast) will now be based at Dunmurry Fire Station everyday between the hours of 11am and 11pm.

The role of the Firefighters will be two-fold.  Firstly to carry out community fire safety work in the area to help prevent fires occurring in the first place and also to provide emergency response to the full range of emergency incidents including fires, road traffic collisions and other specialist rescue incidents occurring.

 

The hours of greatest risk where Firefighters can contribute most to the safety and well-being of the community has been determined through a risk based approach to providing emergency cover, known as Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP).  Outside these hours of 11am – 11pm, the area will continue to be served by Fire Stations in Belfast and Lisburn as normal.  NIFRS can reassure the public that this new deployment of resources at Dunmurry Fire Station will not at all affect emergency cover provision in the Lisburn Road area of Belfast.

 

Colin Lammey, Chief Fire Officer, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said –

“We are committed to providing the best possible fire and rescue service for everyone.  And through our Integrated Risk Management Planning continually review the allocation of all our resources to ensure that we have the right resources, in the right place and at the right time.  

 

“We believe this enhanced provision of both community fire safety and emergency response for the greater Dunmurry area will provide a real benefit to the local community, as we make the very best use of the resources we have available to us to help protect the community.”      

 

NIFRS has converted a 2222 sq ft unit into a bespoke Fire Station within the City Business Park, which also accommodates an Ambulance Service deployment point.  The Fire Station has an appliance room for one Fire Appliance, a community fire safety room, as well as equipment storage rooms plus staff work and rest areas. 

 

1. For further information please contact:

During Office Hours - Carleen McNally, Corporate Communications Manager, Tel 02892 664221 or Mb 07789 208820.

Una Devlin, Corporate Communications Officer, Tel 02892 664221 or Mb 07789208811

Out Of Office Hours Media Enquires -  Duty Headquarters Officer, Tel 02892 664221.

 

2. For further information please contact DHSSPS Information Office on 02890 520571, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.