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New Emergency Rescue Station opens on Rathlin Island - first of its kind in UK
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) will officially open the new Emergency Rescue Station for Rathlin Island on Friday 1st June 07. The project to build a joint Rescue Station is the first of its kind in the UK between a fire and rescue service and the Coastguard.
The new purpose built station will greatly enhance emergency cover on the island, improving community safety for both residents and the many tourists who visit the island each year, as well as providing better working facilities for NIFRS and Coastguard personnel.
Colin Lammey, Chief Fire Officer, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service who will jointly perform the official opening along with Peter Dymond, Chief Coastguard said - "Rathlin Rescue Station is the culmination of many months work and a very strong partnership between NIFRS and our colleagues in Her Majesty's Coastguard. The new Rescue Station replaces the stone built garage which we previously operated from, which had become unsuitable for the requirements of the emergency services and modern day Rathlin Island.
"The way of life on Rathlin Island is unique in Northern Ireland and we wanted to ensure that both our 12 volunteer Firefighters and the volunteer Coastguard Rescue team had the right resources to provide the best possible emergency cover for the entire island - protecting both its residents and its many visitors.
"The new Rescue Station is built close to the site of the previous station but is much larger and provides an appliance room, equipment storage facilities, staff areas including washing facilities as well as an adjacent training area. It was jointly funded by NIFRS and the MCA and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our funding body the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for the support they have shown for this project on Rathlin Island. The new Rescue Station was completed on schedule in time for the busy summer tourist season.
"I would like to pay special tribute to our 12 volunteer Firefighters for their unwavering dedication to protecting the people on Rathlin Island and also to the MCA for their commitment to this project. We wish our Firefighters, the Coastguards and the local community here on Rathlin Island great success with their new joint Rescue Station."
Peter Dymond, Chief Coastguard said - "This is an important new facility for the 80 people who live on Rathlin Island as well as the many visitors to the area. Rathlin is a designated Special Area of Conservation and attracts thousands of visitors each year interested in seeing the unspoilt natural landscape and the abundance of wildlife around the island. Due to its geographical location off the north coast it has its own special requirements in terms of emergency cover and this new facility will allow us to ensure the best possible rescue service delivered by the Coastguard and Firefighters.
"The Rathlin Emergency Rescue Station demonstrates search and rescue partnership and co-operation working at its best and will ensure an integrated emergency response for the island."
