Firefighters Receive 1,500 Hoax Calls New Report Reveals

New figures published today reveal that firefighters attended more than 1,500 hoax and malicious call-outs last year.

The new records also show the number of fire-related incidents fell by 14pc over the last five years, and that the amount of car crashes attended by crews fell by a quarter.

The Irish Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) confirmed the seven fatalities from fire so far this year was also lower than previous years.

Seamus Murphy, chair and Mayo County fire officer, said the introduction of fire and road safety awareness initiatives across Ireland had contributed to the dramatic reduction in fire-related deaths and emergency calls.

Fire records showed 38 deaths last year and the same in 2010; 42 in 2009; 35 in 2008, and 41 in 2007.

The figures were released at the two-day CFOA conference in Dundalk, which was opened by environment minister Phil Hogan.

"I firmly believe that it is through working with communities themselves, not only by responding when a fire or emergency happens, that we can improve public safety," Mr Hogan said.

Irish and UK fire service developments, regionalism of the fire service, the provision of combined fire and ambulance service, an effective building control system, operational risk-taking, and the use of computer fire models were among the issues being discussed by delegates from all over the country.

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