Cork City Fire Brigade

Cork City Fire Brigade

Operational area
Country	Ireland
City	Cork
Agency overview
Established	1877
Annual calls	3,019 (2018)[1]
Employees	153
Annual budget	€18.2m (2019)[2]
Chief Fire Officer	John Ryan
Facilities and equipment
Stations	3
Engines	11
Platforms	3
Rescues	2
HAZMAT	1
Rescue boats	1
Website
Official website

The Cork City Fire Brigade (Irish: Briogáid Dóiteáin Chathair Chorcaí) is the local authority fire and rescue service for Cork City and its surrounding suburbs. It is a branch of Cork City Council. There are currently three fire stations in use by Cork City Fire Brigade; of which 2 are full-time and 1 is part time (retained). Cork City Fire Brigade is staffed by 153 active personnel, making it the second-biggest fire service in Ireland after the Dublin Fire Brigade.

In addition to its main purpose of firefighting, the Cork City Fire Brigade also deals with floods, road traffic collisions, trapped-in-lift releases, and other incidents such as those involving hazardous materials, major transport accidents and medical emergencies. It also conducts emergency planning in conjunction with other emergency services such as the Garda Síochána and performs fire safety inspections and education.^[3] It does not provide an ambulance service as this function is carried out in Cork City by the HSE National Ambulance Service, but since 2013 CCFB have taken on a medical role responding to all cardiac arrests in the Cork City area.^{[citation needed]} All firefighters are trained to PHECC Emergency First Responder level and all of its fire engines carry first aid equipment including advanced airways and defibrillators.^{[citation needed]}

Organised Insurance Fire Brigades were established in the city following the Fire of Cork in 1622.^[4] Acts later passed in 1714 and 1715 made it mandatory for Church of Ireland parishes to provide 'small and large fire engines', but it was not until 1799 that the first effective fire engines were located in Cork.^{[citation needed]} These were maintained by the privately run brigade of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, and two more insurance brigades were also established - those of the Atlas and West of England.^{[citation needed]} These brigades gradually declined in the 19th century, leaving the city in need of a dedicated fire service. This led to Cork Corporation forming Cork Fire Brigade in 1877. One of the most notable chapters in Cork Fire Brigade's history occurred in 1920, during the Irish War of Independence, with the Burning of Cork by British forces who hindered attempts to fight the conflagration and seriously wounded four firefighters with gunfire.^[5] The fire destroyed over 40 business premises and 300 residential properties, amounting to over five acres of the city.^[6] The Brigade entered into a new chapter of its history in 1923 with its first motor-pump being put into service, eventually leading to complete mechanization of the fleet and the withdrawal of the old horse-drawn equipment.^[7] Further changes occurred throughout the 20th century, including the opening of the brigade's present headquarters on Anglesea Street in 1975 and improvements in fire-fighting equipment and vehicles. Following the 2019 Cork boundary change, Cork City Fire Brigade saw the addition of another station at Ballincollig and a significantly increased area of responsibility.^[8]

Cork City Fire Brigade currently operates three fire stations; Anglesea Street Station which is staffed by 112 firefighters, Ballyvolane Station which is staffed by 28 firefighters and Ballincollig station which is staffed by 10 firefighters.^[9] Anglesea street and Ballyvolane stations operate in four watches; Blue, Red, Green and Amber. Cork City Fire Brigade firefighters work in a shift pattern of 9am to 6pm and 6pm to 9am on weekdays with 24 hours shifts on the weekends.^[10][11] The brigade is at the scene of 89% of fires within ten minutes and has the best performance overall in Ireland, with just over 1% of fires taking more than 20 minutes to reach.^[12]

• Dublin Fire Brigade
• Garda Síochána
• List of fire departments
• Civil Defence Ireland
• Irish Coast Guard

• Pat Poland (2010). For Whom the Bells Tolled: A History of Cork's Fire Services 1622-1900. ISBN 9781845889869.
• Pat Poland (2018). The Old Brigade : the Rebel City's Firefighting Story 1900-1950. ISBN 9781527222182.
• Pat Poland (2022). Cork City Firefighters: A Proud Record. A Visual History from 1950.

• Cork City Fire Brigade