Services team up at Eglinton airport

The specialist expertise of the City of Derry Airport Fire Service in dealing with aircraft emergencies will be further enhanced following the signing of the unique agreement between the Airport Fire Service (AFS) and the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS).

The MoU will see both fire services share training, planning, advice and personnel in relation to emergency situations involving aircraft, not only within the airfield at the City of Derry Airport, but within the vicinity of the Airport also.

Although cooperation between both services has been excellent over the years this is the first written agreement of its kind between the Airport Fire Service and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service.

Ronnie Lamrock, Senior Airport Fire Officer at City of Derry Airport has welcomed the development.

"This agreement copper fastens an already excellent relationship between NIFRS and the City of Derry Airport and we at the Airport Fire Service look forward to training, planning and working with NIFRS in the months and years ahead."

Mark Deeney, Londonderry District Commander, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said: "This agreement between Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and City of Derry Airport Fire Service, is an excellent example of the multi-agency work that is carried out locally to ensure provision of the highest levels of public safety during emergency situations.

"Both organisations have co-operated together for many years however this document formalises arrangements for the combined use of our resources at aircraft incidents, both on and off the airfield.

"This combined with regular testing of the plan, provides a comprehensive level of emergency cover for City of Derry Airport.

"We certainly welcome the strengthening of the links between the two organisations and look forward to continued co-operation in the future."