A new fire and rescue training unit is coming to Clare’s International Airport.
It comes as the Shannon Airport Group has been given the green light for a state-of-the art facility on its campus.
The new development will allow Shannon’s in house airport police and fire service to expand their training capabilities.
The main component of the existing fire training ground at Shannon is a stimulated steel aircraft shell fitted with a number of gas fires, which has been in regular use since its installation.
The new grant of planning permission will enable the addition of a fire box and rescue training unit.
Essentially, this consists of separate 20ft and 40ft containers which can simulate various emergency scenarios on-site, which currently require Shannon Airport personnel to travel to Dublin to practice.
The Fire Box will also be fitted with gas fires, which will be supplied by the existing LPG tanks.
Shannon Airport made the application for the new unit in March which, coinciding with the completion of an intensive three-month training programme for 11 new police and fire service recruits.
The recruits, hailing from across Clare and Limerick, received training in Emergency Communications, Fire Dynamics, Firefighting Techniques, Search & Rescue Tactics, Aircraft Construction, Surveillance, and Patrols.
The recruits were also trained in using Shannon’s state-of-the art High Reach Extendable Turret Fire tenders which can hold up to 11,500 litres of water and can directly apply water, foam, and dry chemicals to the seat of the fire, which is the area of most severe burning in a blaze.
Shannon Airport has taken significant strides to beef up its emergency services this year, having also recently added two new long-wheel base Toyota Landcruiser Airport Patrol Vehicles and a Mercedes-Benz Vito E-Tourer personnel carrier.
Shannon Airport Fire And Police Service Fleet 2024
– Mercedes-Benz Vito E Tourer PC (Personnel Carrier)
– 2 x Toyota Landcruiser LWB 4×4 APV’s (Airfield Patrol Vehicle’s)
– 1x Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×4 APV (Airfield Patrol Vehicle)
– 2 x Rosenbauer Panther 6×6 HRET (High Reach Extendable Turret)
– 2 x Sides S3000 6×6 CrT (Crash Rescue Tender)
– 1 x Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Electric 312/39 MRV (Medical Response Vehicle)
– Land Rover Defender L4V 4×4
– 1 x Škoda Enyaq 60 Electric APV (Airport Patrol Vehicle)
– 1 x Hyundai I40 Salon Comfort APV (Airport Patrol Vehicle
