'A fantastic experience': Fire Chiefs from U.S and Sweden pay visit to Carlow

Carlow County Council “were honoured” that two international Fire Chiefs accepted their invitation to visit the county’s Fire & Rescue Service recently. 

Fire Chief Darrell Duty, from Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department in Arizona, USA, and Chief Fire Officer Markus Green, of Räddningstjänsten Fyrbodal, Sweden, came to Carlow on April 7 as part of the Tempe Sister Cities professional exchange. 

This was developed and initiated after Acting Fire Chief Officer (A/CFO) Ben Woodhouse travelled with Mayor of Carlow, Paul Doogue and Leas Cathaoirleach, Daniel Pender, to Tempe, Arizona as part of the programme in October 2025. 

On their return, a lot of hard work was undertaken to launch this professional exchange opportunity between the three Fire & Rescue Services in three countries. 

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A/CFO Ben Woodhouse said, “This was a fantastic experience for the three Chief Fire Officers and their respective Fire & Rescue Services with extensive discussions and exchanges of good practices to meet current challenges in delivering modern day Fire & Rescue Services. I was honoured both Chief Fire Officers accepted my invitation and was very proud to bring them to Carlow and showcase our Fire Authority including our fleet, equipment, systems, stations and the Fire Services Learning and Development Centre Hacketstown.

“The visiting Chief Fire Officers also got an opportunity to meet Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service staff and have consolidated a long lasting friendship and professional relationship into the future. All three Chief Fire Officers have taken ideas, good practices and concepts from each other for consideration of implementation within their respective Fire Authorities,” he added. 

The visit included:

• Tour of Carlow Fire Station, including fleet and equipment
• Meet and greet with Carlow Fire Officers
• Presentation by each CFO on their Fire Authority and how they are meeting modern day challenges in service delivery
• Tour of the ECO Class Fire Appliance
• Visit to the Fire Services Learning & Development Centre, Hacketstown and observation of a CFBT wear
• Tour of how carbonaceous contaminants are being managed at the Learning & Development Centre
• Panel discussion as part of the Pan Celtic International Festival regarding delivery of Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Service and what has been learnt from visiting Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service
• Took part in the Pan Celtic Festival activities in Carlow including a tour of SETU and even a lesson in hurling
• Explored various platforms underpinning safety management systems
• Visit to Tullow MD meeting to observe a presentation to the Elected Members by A/CFO Ben Woodhouse providing a chance to observe how Fire Authorities in Ireland operate within the political environment.

A/CFO Ben Woodhouse concluded, “Particular learning and exchange of good practices covered dealing with fires in Battery Energy Storage Systems and EV's, managing wildland fires, managing carbonaceous contaminants and carcinogens in training and at operational incidents, in addition to reducing the impact on the environment by our activities. I now intend to progress the professional relationship with online meetings between the three Fire & Rescue Services to explore further opportunities for shared learning and exchange of good practices.”