Limerick Fire and Rescue to carry out inspections of high rise buildings

LIMERICK City Fire and Rescue service is planning to carry out a targetted programme of fire safety inspections of high rise buildings before the end of the year.

The information came to light following a question by Solidarity councillor Paul Keller at this month’s metropolitan district meeting. 

He asked if the service has the appropriate equipment “so as to safely rescue people that may become trapped in a burning high-rise building like the 17-storey Limerick City Hotel and the two, 15-storey city centre apartments.” 

He was told Limerick Fire and Rescue Service has three high-reach appliances in its fleet.

Last month the Limerick Leader revealed, that fire safety concerns have been identified relating to at least one multi-storey building in Limerick, in the wake of last year’s fire at Grenfell Tower in London, which claimed more than 70 lives.

It was further revealed that Limerick Fire Service has had “considerable difficulty in determining ownership of buildings or persons in control of buildings” which are to be assessed as part of a national review ordered by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy.

The Limerick Leader has also learned that chief fire officer, Michael Ryan, has threatened to initiate enforcement proceedings against a number of property owners who have failed to carry out fire safety assessments - despite being asked to do so.