‘In all my years in the service, I’ve never seen a bog fire as bad as that’

Louise Walsh
Meath's only female firefighter was among those on the frontline who went without sleep to battle the raging gorse fires in the county.
In an exceptionally busy week for the fire services, Anita Whiston and her colleagues worked 24-hour days on three occasions while dealing with call-outs in the county over an eight day period.
Fire crews from all across the county worked tirelessly to combat the flames from the fires at Boardsmill and Kildalkey.
“On the Sunday, we were called out at 1pm to attend the gorse fires and the crews were swapped to give us a break, but we were barely back at the station when another call came in that we had to attend,” she said.

“It was like that as well on the previous Wednesday and Friday when we also had to contend with a factory fire in Trim
“In all my years in the service, I've never seen a bog fire so bad. The first day, especially as we were using beaters on the flames and it was so warm.
“That was tough but once we got the hoses out, it was manageable.”

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With approximately 450 call-outs last year, Navan's 14 firefighters are on call 24/7 unless they opt out for a day off - which only four are allowed to do so at any one time.
“It's the main station in Meath and it's getting busier. We would also be the second turn-out to help some of the other stations if needed.
“Whenever that bleeper goes, you go too,” she said, admitting that it was hard trying to cope with young children and a home.

“If you went into my house, you'd swear I had been burgled,” she laughed
“It's very hard to keep up with things and it's awkward to try and plan things with the kids.
“I went back to firefighting when my kids Elif (11) and Sadiye (10) were two and six months old and it was very difficult having to drop them to my parents' home to mind at all hours when I had to go on a call out.
“What was worse is that you don't know until you get there, how long you are going to be gone - a few hours or even a few days as has happened occasionally.
“Even in the snow, we all slept in the fire station to be on hand if anyone needed us to help with transport or anything.”
Anita became a firefighter 20 years ago after seeing an ad in a newspaper.
“I was working in Camera Cabin in Navan at the time and wanted to do something different so when I saw this, I thought why not - I didn't think I'd be one of only a few women in the job though.”
After medical tests, a breathing apparatus course and a two-week recruit course, she became one of the first female fire fighters in Meath and was accepted straight away by her male peers.

“I started with a lovely bunch, including Alfie Kavanagh, Ray Mooney and Tommy Monaghan who I had such respect for and they never treated me any differently because I was a woman.
“Out and about, even now, I get looks from people who can't believe there's a woman firefighter and there have been a few comments about thinking I stay and look after things in the station - but no-one has ever given me any derogatory remarks.”
The fire service crews also give talks to third-class students about fire safety - and have had to include advice in recent years on tablets and phones, which many nine-year olds now have.
“Years ago, we never had to talk about phones or charging tablets or computers but now we do, especially when one boy once told us that he charged his phone under his pillow every night.”

Over the years, Anita has attended numerous road traffic accidents and house fires but one in particular stays with her.
“The Kentstown bus crash. It was such a horrific day. When we got there, it was just carnage.
“So many kids walking around injured and worried relatives arriving on the scene, not knowing what they'd find. It's something I will never forget.
In such cases, counselling services are available for all firefighters,” she pointed out.
“You find ways of coping. You'll get back into the engine despondent but someone will crack a joke or say something to try and break the mood. You have to.”