Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service were honoured that Fire Chief Darrell Duty from Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department, Arizona, USA & Chief Fire Officer Markus Green Räddningstjänsten Fyrbodal, Sweden accepted their invitation to travel to Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service last week April 7th, 2026 as part of the Tempe Sister Cities professional exchange. This was the first professional exchange between the Sister Cities and was developed and initiated following Carlow’s A/CFO Ben Woodhouse travelling with Mayor of Carlow Cllr. Paul Doogue & Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr. Daniel Pender to Tempe, Arizona as part of the Sister Cities programme in October 2025.
A/CFO Ben Woodhouse
‘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.’
The visit included:
- Tour of Carlow Fire Station, including fleet and equipment
- Meet & 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
- Take part in the Pan Celtic Festival activities in Carlow including a tour of SETU and even a lesson in hurling!
- Exploring various platforms underpinning our 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:
‘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.’