This article is from page 22 of the 2013-06-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 22 JPG
THE cost to the Fire Services of dealing with malicious fires in Ennis soared to € 183,631 over a three year period, new figures show.
There were a total of 147 likely malicious fires in Ennis between 2009 and 2012. The details were revealed at the June meeting of Ennis Town Council.
Councillor Paul O’Shea (Ind) requested that the Council provide data on the number of malicious fires caused in Ennis between 2009-2012 and the cost to the taxpayer of responding to calls from the fire service.
Details are contained in a letter from Chief Fire Officer Adrian Kelly to Town Manager Ger Dollard.
The Fire Services attended 20 malicious fires in 2012; 24 in 2011; a whopping 57 in 2010 and 46 in 2009.
Mr Kelly states that the fire service incident commander will record what his/her opinion is the ‘most likely source of ignition’ at the time of the incident.
He added, “However the investigation into the cause of fires is not a function of the Fire Services; rather it is a matter for An Garda Suíochana.”
Mr Kelly states that the majority of the incidents were either bonfires; vehicle fires; rubbish and unoccupied derelict buildings. The figures do not take into account the outcome of any investigation by An Garda Suíochana.
The cost to the Fire Services of attending malicious fire incidents in Ennis ran to € 21,992.02 in 2012.
Cllr O’Shea described the figures as ‘unacceptable’. He said, “What are we doing as a Council to deter this waste of taxpayers money?”
Town Manager Ger Dollard said these incidents are always a “cause for concern” to the Fire Services. He said the fire services have engaged in a number of awareness campaigns in recent years.
Mr Dollard told the meeting that the gardaí have been involved in investigating a number of these malicious fires.