Last Friday (June 1st), 166 sets of next generation fire kits were presented to Clare County Fire and Rescue Service by the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Tom McNamara.

Following an extensive tender process, the Fire Action Matrix X-treme kits were acquired from Hunter Apparel Solutions Limited at a cost of €243,000, representing the latest in a number of positive developments for the local Fire Service.

Earlier this year, construction works began on upgrading and extending Kilkee Fire Station as part of a €661,000 investment in modernising the facilities for Kilkee Fire Brigade.

The Fire Service recently took delivery of high pressure lifting bags at a cost of €66,000 to enhance the response to road based incidents and is also awaiting final approval to order a new Class B Fire Appliance costing €340,000 for expected delivery in 2019.

At the presentation Mayor McNamara said:

“The new protective clothing will continue to provide crews with the best protection they have ever had at incidents. The high quality specification underlines Clare County Fire and Rescue Service’s commitment to the safety of its frontline crews and will provide greater protection to firefighters on the incident ground.”

“Following an extensive tender process, the choice of Hunter Apparel Solutions Limited’s Fire Action Matrix X-treme Fire Kit will provide the highest possible performance which exceeds the current requirements of the standards,” added Clare’s Chief Fire Officer, Adrian Kelly.

Mr Kelly included that fire and rescue personnel within the county trialled the new kits for “comfort and fit across a range of role-related scenarios. He also said that direct exposure to flame and radiant heat is one of the biggest dangers facing firefighters during turnouts.

“Thermal insulation is key to staving off this effect and providing those crucial seconds.  The innovative material structure and new high tech intermediate layer of the Fire Action Matrix X-treme delivers substantially greater protection and comfort than required in the European Standard EN 469.  Radiant heat is blocked almost entirely, even under prolonged exposure,” concluded Mr Kelly.