Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service Fire & Emergency Operations Plan 2026-2030

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this Fire and Emergency Operations Plan is to fulfil Carlow County
Council’s statutory obligation as outlined in Section 26 of the Fire Services Act,
1981 and 2003.

Although the legislation only requires this plan to deal with arrangements made with
regard to Fire and Emergency operations, we have included the contribution Carlow
Fire Authority makes to the South-East Major Emergency Management Region.

Section 26 of the Fire Services Act, 1981 and 2003, states:
"Each Fire Authority which maintains a Fire Brigade shall prepare (and, as occasion
requires, revise) plans for fire and emergency operations showing the provision
made by it in respect of:
 Organisation
 Fire Stations
 Appliances
 Equipment
 Water supplies and extinguishing agents
 Training
 Operational procedure and such other matters as may be relevant for dealing
with operations of an emergency nature under Section 25

Section 25 of the Fire Services Act, 1981 and 2003, states:
"A Fire Authority may carry out or assist in any operations of an emergency nature,
whether or not a risk of fire is involved, and a Fire Authority may accordingly make
such provision for the rescue or safeguarding of persons and protection of property
as it considered necessary for the purposes of that function."
The Fire and Emergency Operations Plan also includes reference to operational
duties imposed on the Fire Authority by Sections 10(2) and 10(3) of the Fire Services
Act, 1981 and 2003.

Section 10(2) of the Fire Services Act, 1981 and 2003, states
“A Fire Authority shall make provision for the prompt extinguishing of fires in
buildings and other places of all kinds in it’s functional area and for the protection
and rescue of persons and property from injury by fire, and establish and maintain a
fire brigade, provide premises and make other provisions as it considers necessary
or desirable for such purposes and make adequate provision for the reception and
response to calls for assistance of the fire brigade”

Section 10(3) of the Fire Services Act, 1981 and 2003, states:
"A Fire Authority shall, in exercise of its functions under subsection (2), have regard
(in addition to all other relevant considerations) to the nature of the fire hazards and
the probable incidence and extent of fires in it's functional area, the character of the
area and the value of the property liable to be damaged by fires."
This plan sets out current arrangements within the Fire Authority, it also sets out
strategic plans and targets for the Fire Authority. This plan shall be reviewed from
time to time as deemed appropriate; in any case it shall be reviewed at least once
every 5 years. It should be noted that the making and revision of the Emergency
Operations Plan shall be a reserved function under Section 26(3) of Fire Services
Act 1981 and 2003.