Positive news update for the future of a Tipperary fire station
Good news update in the campaign to secure the future of Newport Fire Station
There has been a positive update in the campaign to secure the future of Newport Fire Station, and interviews with potential new firefighters are on the cards.
The station, which earlier this year was identified as being at risk of closure due to critically low staffing levels, has received encouraging interest from potential retained firefighters following a series of community engagement events.
Speaking back in May, Station Officer in Newport PJ O’Brien said that the station responds to between 60 and 80 calls a year on average, while at the time sub-station officer James McInerney had said the impacts of a closure would be “devastating”: “the next pump into this area would be potentially in Cappamore, Killaloe or Limerick City, so it just would be devastating if the station closes.”
However, the council say the response to their open days and community meeting was positive, and interviews with potential candidates are on the way. “We have had a very good response to our recruitment drive. The matter in relation to crew levels will be kept under review."
The latest announcement represents an encouraging step forward for the future of the station and the wider Newport community which for some time was operating with just three firefighters, well below its target number of eight firefighters.
A community meeting was held in Newport on the April 26, followed by two ‘Fire Station Open Days’ on May 8 and 10. On these open days, the Tipperary Fire Service invited potential applicants to call to the station and to meet with crew members so as to get an understanding about what the job entails.
The engagement with the local community in recent weeks is a positive step forward in the attempt to keep Newport Fire Station open.
Tipperary County Council and Tipperary Fire Service said that they would like to thank the Elected Members of Nenagh Municipal District, along with members of the Newport community for their support and assistance.