Tag: Dublin Fire Brigade

This plaque, at 10 Trinity Street, Dublin 2, commemorates Fireman John Kite, the first member of Dublin Fire Brigade to be killed in the line of duty.

Just before 9.30pm on the night of 20th of March 1884, the Fire Brigade were alerted to a fire at 10 Trinity Street, now Cotswold Outdoors. Firemen from two nearby fire stations – Coppinger Row off South William Street and Whitehorse Yard off Winetavern Street, were on the scene in minutes.

The building was on fire at basement and ground floor, and on the third floor. Firemen entered the building at ground level and from a wheeled escape ladder to the third floor.

The fire was quickly under control when without warning, the building collapsed burying nine firemen inside under masonry, timber and slates. Remaining firemen outside the building, with assistance from police and soldiers from the nearby Ship Street Barracks, set about removing the rubble to find the missing firemen.

Eight were rescued, many with serious injuries, but unfortunately one fire fighter, John Kite, lost his life. His death was reported by the Dublin City Coroner to have been due to ”suffocation in the ruins of a house while carrying out his duty”.

He was the first Dublin Fire Brigade fire fighter to lose his life while on duty. Fireman John Kite was survived by his wife Eliza and six children.

The plaque was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste, and Assistant Chief Fire Officer Michael Reilly, on 20 March 2024.

Unveiled on 18 September 2023, this plaques commemorates John Darmon, a member of the Dublin Fire Brigade, who was killed on duty in Tara Street station on 23 August 1938.

Locate this plaque on Google maps.

Fireman Jack Darmon was a veteran of the War of Independence, having served in K’ Company, 3^rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade.

A firefighter/mechanic, he was working on a brigade vehicle in the garage pit in Tara Street when he was electrocuted and died. He left a wife and four children.

His death occurred at a time of massive reorganisation in the DFB and has never been properly marked by a memorial in the station.

The plaque was unveiled by Cllr Tom Brabazon (representing the Lord Mayor) and the Chief Fire Officer, Deniis Keely, on 18 September 2023.

This plaque commemorates Inspector Christopher Doherty and Fireman Peter Burke who were killed attending a fire at 30 Westmoreland Street on 20 May 1891.

The fire broke out at the premises of Graham’s chemists and Lafayette’s photographers, now part of CCT College.

Find this plaque on Google maps.

Graham’s chemist occupied the first two floors of the building, with Lafayette’s photographers on the next two, and living accommodation on the fifth floor. At approximately 2 a.m.  on 20 May 1891 a fire was discovered on the third floor. There were four occupants on the fifth floor, two of whom managed to escape to the street and raise the alarm but two women were trapped on the fifth floor.

During the fire service response Inspector Christopher Doherty, 25 years’ service in Dublin Fire Brigade, holder of three chevrons for bravery for saving life on previous occasions, and Fireman Peter Bourke, three months’ service in Dublin Fire Brigade, paid the ultimate price in their role as firefighters and lost their lives here while saving the life of a civilian.

Inspector Doherty is buried in Kilbarrack Cemetery and Fireman Burke ‘s grave is in Glasnevin.

The plaque was unveiled by the Lord Mayor and the Chief Fire Officer on 19 May 2023.

This plaque commemorates Inspector Christopher Doherty and Fireman Peter Burke who were killed attending a fire at 30 Westmoreland Street on 20 May 1891.

The fire broke out at the premises of Graham’s chemists and Lafayette’s photographers, now part of CCT College.

Find this plaque on Google maps.

Graham’s chemist occupied the first two floors of the building, with Lafayette’s photographers on the next two, and living accommodation on the fifth floor. At approximately 2 a.m.  on 20 May 1891 a fire was discovered on the third floor. There were four occupants on the fifth floor, two of whom managed to escape to the street and raise the alarm but two women were trapped on the fifth floor.

During the fire service response Inspector Christopher Doherty, 25 years’ service in Dublin Fire Brigade, holder of three chevrons for bravery for saving life on previous occasions, and Fireman Peter Bourke, three months’ service in Dublin Fire Brigade, paid the ultimate price in their role as firefighters and lost their lives here while saving the life of a civilian.

Inspector Doherty is buried in Kilbarrack Cemetery and Fireman Burke ‘s grave is in Glasnevin.

The plaque was unveiled by the Lord Mayor and the Chief Fire Officer on 19 May 2023.