Denis hands on officer's baton in Cavan Fire Service

The image of the heroic fireman (or woman) is truly epitomised by the endless stream of youngsters who dress up in Fireman Sam outfits and dream for the day when they will ride to the rescue in that shiny red tender with siren wailing and blue light flashing - a fleeting image of an action packed job that cannot be matched for its drama and excitement. But being a member of the Fire Service is serious business - New York Fire Department lost hundreds of highly trained personnel in the Twin Towers catastrophe, while here in Ireland two firemen lost their lives when attempting to deal with an industrial fire in Bray a few years ago. Firemen and women put their lives on the line each time they respond to a call out - whether that be a house fire, an industrial accident or one of the many appalling scenes of carnage that we see on our roads. The personnel of Cavan Fire and Rescue Service, past and present, have been playing a vital role in the lives of the people of Cavan for many generations now. It is always nice to salute their efforts, particularly to say a word of gratitude to a retiring fireman who has given many years of dedicated service. Denis Hanrahan has just retired as Cavan Station Officer after giving more than two decades to the service as a fireman, engine driver, sub station officer and station officer. Denis was attracted to the Fire and Rescue Service because he wished to do what he could to help people in difficulty and to saves lives and property whenever possible. He and his colleagues have came to the rescue on many occasions here in Cavan although Denis is reluctant to speak of individual cases in which the fire service have been engaged. County Cavan Fire Service has substantially expanded over recent decades to include their now equally important rescue role. In this regard , they are actively engaged in dealing with the consequences, often fatal, of road traffic collisions. They are highly specialist in this field of activity trained in the use of the latest rescue equipment to extricate people safely from crashed vehicles. As a fireman and officer Denis Hanrahan is well versed in all of the challenges that confront the fire and rescue service. Having to deal with a chemical spill or a conflagration caused by a chemical accident is something that haunts firemen like Denis who know the devastating consequences of such a calamity. It is therefore important that dangerous chemicals are transported securely and safely along our roads, he stresses. Denis Hanrahan was promoted to sub station officer in Cavan in 1998 and station officer in 2000. He took over from the great Jimmy Mulcahy, he fondly remarks. Jimmy was a prominent member of the Cavan Fire Service for many years. The station officer is the man in charge of the local fire service. He runs the station and when the brigade rushes to the scene of the latest fire or accident, it is he who has to make the judgement call as to the proper course of action that must be undertaken. Denis and his colleagues in Cavan Fire and Rescue Service draw on their years of experience and technical expertise to deal with the most difficult of accident scenes, fires and life threatening emergencies. They have done so with a highly commendable record of success. Denis salutes the dedication of his colleagues stressing the point that they are all highly trained in their chosen field. He praises Cavan County Council for the level of funding and commitment given to the countywide Fire and Rescue Service over recent years including the provision of ongoing training courses. Denis acknowledges that the range of equipment available to the Fire and Rescue Service in County Cavan is now quite exceptional. "There are many new appliances and new stations such as in Cootehill and Dowra - there is one being built in Belturbet at the minute," he says. According to Denis, if the Fire Service can get a person released from a crashed car as quickly as possible there is an 85% chance of that person's survival. The pressure is therefore on the Fire and Rescue Service to extricate the crash victim as quickly as possible but they must also move cautiously so as they don't further injure the crash victim. This requires great composure and skill. Despite having effective breathing apparatus and tough suits for the job, the challenge of entering a burning building to rescue someone is still a quite daunting experience for the average fireman. Unable to see by the blinding smoke and threatened by the overpowering heat, firemen work their way upstairs to find the victim who is usually lying unconscious on a bed in one of the rooms. Fears that the inferno downstairs may collapse the floor underneath them as they take the victim out is always a harrowing thought for all firemen who breathe a sigh of relief as they exit the burning building with the fire victim. The above experience will be encountered by most fire and rescue personnel - their work should never be taken for granted. As well as the many house fires, road traffic collisions, Cavan Fire Service has also over the years been involved in quelling a range of industrial fires such as at Cavan Crystal and the offices of The Anglo-Celt. Denis reminds us that two members of Cavan Fire Service were injured while trying to put out the fire in the former Celt offices when a wall affected by the fire and heat collapsed on them. He informs us that Cavan Fire and Rescue Service are doing a fire safety promotional programme in all schools in the county. Officers will giving talks to 3rd year students in second level schools advising them of best practice in relation to fire safety in the home. Simple advice such as being careful with the use of matches and cigarette lighters or to ensuring that the gas cooker or the chip pan are not left switched when turning in for the night are all vital fire safety checks, he says. Denis advises that people should close all doors in their homes in the interests of fire safety. He says that a door being closed will contain the fire in that room for many hours but once a door is open the fire is provided with oxygen and can rapidly spread throughout the house with devastating results. He stresses the importance of smoke alarms stating that a smoke alarm can save your life. Modern smoke alarms come with a ten-year battery he says - although it is always important to check the battery from time to time. In terms of the day job, Denis is a gardener with Cavan Town Council and will continue in that role for sometime yet. However, not being on call 24/7 with Cavan Fire Service, does give him an opportunity to relax and enjoy life with his wife and family. It is a rest well deserved.