Members of the Killybegs Fire Service meeting the President at the Aviva Stadium.
The Killybegs Fire Service received a national bravery award in 2015 due to the teams’ heroic efforts in rescuing a woman from a burning building.
The FAI consequently invited a few members down to the AVIVA to show their appreciation.
The lads had a great night and were introduced to President Michael D Higgins as part of their overall experience.
The following is an account of the incident which led to the service being presented with their bravery award.
At approximately 8:00am on 1st November, 2013, a fire broke out in the bar premises of Hughie’s Bar, Killybegs, Co. Donegal. It quickly spread to the upstairs living quarters of a 93 year old woman, who was the sole occupant of the house.
When the barman opened the premises at 8:00am he was met by a smoke filled hallway and was unable to make it upstairs. The woman’s son also tried to gain access through the kitchen window but was unable to do so, due to the intense smoke. By the time the Killybegs Fire Brigade arrived there was smoke billowing from the woman’s bedroom window. The Fire Service entered the building and went up the stairs. They broke down the door to the bedroom, located the woman and then proceeded to carry her towards the exit. A waiting ambulance brought her to Letterkenny Hospital where she was treated for shock and smoke inhalation.
Without the swift actions of the Killybegs Fire Service, an elderly woman may well have perished.
It was the view of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer that any bravery award should be awarded to the entire crew on duty that day.
For their effort
The Killybegs Fire Brigade is awarded a Certificate of Bravery which was be accepted on their behalf by the station officer, Kevin Conwell.
