Tallow Fire & Rescue will be out and about across West Waterford next week as part of Community Fire Safety Week.

Local firefighters will visit schools, businesses, farms and public areas throughout the week, offering practical advice on fire prevention and highlighting simple steps that can help keep people safe.

The programme begins on Monday with a visit to Tallow National School at 10am, followed by a community fire safety event at Centra from 2pm.

On Tuesday, Tallow Fire Station will open its doors to the public from 9am to 5pm. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the firefighters, learn more about their work and get fire safety advice.

Firefighters will visit Tirlán at 10am on Wednesday, with a focus on fire safety on farms and around agricultural machinery.

On Thursday, the crew will visit Ballyduff National School at 9.45am before heading to Jim Powers Agri from 2pm to 5pm, where farm and machinery fire safety will again be highlighted.

Friday’s programme begins at Knockanore National School at 10am, followed by a community fire safety event at Ballyduff Storehouse from 2pm to 4pm.

The week concludes on Saturday morning, when firefighters will be in The Square, Tallow from 9am to meet members of the public and share further fire safety information.

Local Councillor and Tallow firefighter Donnchadh Mulcahy says the week is an important opportunity to engage with the community and raise awareness.

He says firefighters see first-hand how quickly a fire can develop and the devastating impact it can have on families, businesses and farms.

The school visits will be aimed specifically at pupils and staff, while members of the public are encouraged to attend the community events throughout the week.

Tallow Fire & Rescue is reminding people that taking a few minutes to learn about fire safety could one day save a life.