WHEN IT comes to public servants there are few people in society who are more deserving of praise than members of the Fire Service.
This week the service in New Ross bid farewell to one of its most respected members when Markie Ronan, from Pondsfield, retired after a career stretching back 27 years.
On Friday night family members, colleagues and friends gathered in Spider O’Brien’s pub in South Street for Mr. Ronan’s farewell party.
However, within 12 hours of his official retirement at midnight on Wednesday The Echo spoke to Mr. Ronan about his career.
“I suppose 27 years is a long time with the service alright because some people come in and might last a year or two,” he said.
“Mind you, in my time I have served with people who were also in the service for a long time.”
When asked what the most memorable incident was that he had to attend his answer was immediate: “The apartment complex fire on the quay.”
That fire, which occurred at the Kennedy Plaza apartment complex on January 20, 2012, was one of the biggest ever fires in New Ross and left numerous people homeless. However, thanks to the quick actions of the Fire Service crews no-one was injured and the blaze was eventually brought under control.
“That was the biggest fire I’ve ever tended to,” said Mr. Ronan.
“It was also the fact that it involved a lot of other buildings,” he added.
He also commented that road traffic collisions were difficult to attend for all fire fighters because each incident is different and when leaving the station no-one knows exactly what they will find when they arrive at the scene.
“When we return from a traffic collision we get back to station have a cup of tea and we talk about it with our colleagues,” he said.
Mr. Ronan joined the fire service as a fire-fighter and progressed through the ranks to driver and for the last six years was Sub-Station Officer in New Ross.
He was also the station’s union rep in New Ross and was also the county union rep.
He highlighted he fact that when someone joins the service they are on call 24/7 and their entire life revolves around it.
“You whole family becomes part of it because that is the nature of the job,” he said.
“You are on call all the time when on duty,” he added.
“Your whole life is based around the running of the service.”
With regard to changes he’s witnessed during his career he said the Fire Service is now rightly regarded as being one of the frontline emergency services.
“You don’t join the service to say ‘I’m a fire-fighter’,” he said.
“You join to do a job and most people who do it love the job,” he added.
“I enjoyed every single minute of it.”
Mr. Ronan complimented Director or Services with Wexford County Council, Maria Mehlia, who as Chief County Fire Officer, brought about many positive changes to the service across the county.
“She took the organisation to a new level in terms of training and equipment,” he said.
“I would say that Wexford County Fire Service is the best equipped retained service in the country in terms of training,” he added.
Mr. Ronan also commented that the service was busier during the Celtic Tiger era.
Advice to new recruits:
When asked if he had advice for anyone thinking of joining the service Mr. Ronan said to make sure to talk to colleagues, friends or family after attending a serious incident.
“We have a system in place now called CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) which we use to help people deal with tending to serious incidents,” he said.
“I would make sure people are aware of this,” he added.
The station also has a dedicated member trained to help fire-fighters cope with the stress of traumatic incidents.
“That officer can deal with you up to a certain level but CISM is part of that process too,” he said.
“You will bring it home with you because it’s hard not to,” he added.
“It’s a great job but you need to know what you are getting into; I enjoyed every bit of it.”
On Wednesday night Mr. Ronan’s career in the service came to an end, however, by the same time on Friday night the party in his honour was only just getting warmed up.
