Praise for fire service

On the M4 last week, Westmeath Examiner columnist Bernie Comaskey, came upon a van that had caught fire.

The man who was driving was on his way to an appointment in St James’s Hospital for the treatment of cancer, and was in a considerable state of shock.

“When I came on the scene the van was just blowing smoke, some traffic sped through it, others pulled up behind me. The fire brigade arrived very shortly after that. They had come from Edenderry,” Bernie told the Examiner.

“The van had burst into flames at that stage. It all happened so quickly. The firemen had the blaze out in minutes, they were so efficient.

"Another man, who had also pulled in at the scene, came to me afterwards and said he was a fire officer in another station. He was very critical of the government, and the situation the fire service find themselves in. I have to say I have to agree.”