Laois gets two new fire engines for Christmas
Two new fire appliances were officially handed over at a ceremony in Portlaoise Fire Station on Thursday 11 December
SANTA arrived early for firefighters in Laois today, with the delivery of two shiny new fire engines for the county.
The state-of-the-art fire appliances, which will serve Portlaoise and Mountmellick, were officially handed over at a ceremony in Portlaoise Fire Station on Thursday 11 December.
Delighted fire crews lined out to welcome the impressive appliances, which are based on a Scania chassis and are built by Irish company An Sídheán Teo, based in An Spidéal, Co Galway.
Meanwhile, council chairperson Cllr Barry Walsh fulfilled a childhood Christmas dream, as he hopped into the cab of one of the huge fire appliances for a festive photo shoot.
At the handover ceremony, Cllr Walsh officially received the keys to the new appliances from Maura O’Toole of An Sídheán Teo.
The event was attended by firefighters from Portlaoise and Mountmellick fire stations, together with Laois Co Council chief executive Michael Rainey, director of services Simon Walton, Laois chief fire officer Declan Power and senior assistant chief fire officer Anthony Tynan.
The new appliances boast a range of the latest features, including advanced active road safety systems, polymer bodywork with integrated water tank and computerised pump controls.
Laois County Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement that the new appliances have strengthened the fleet of fire appliances in the county, which has eight fire stations.
