[obdl3945]

Hi, guys...

The undernoted link provided some information on this subject. Hope it is of interest to you.

http://www.irishfireservices.com/pages/afs.htm

History
In 1938 the threat of war across Europe was looming and Ireland even though choosing to remain neutral in military affairs, nevertheless began to make preparations for whatever was to come. In August 1939 the Department of Defence initiated the Auxiliary Fire Service and gave Major Comeford command. Third Officer Gorman of Dublin Fire Brigade was appointed as training Officer with acting district officer Leech, two instructors from the army and four newly made up leading firefighters also instructing.
With the Fire Brigades Act of 1940 The AFS was approved as a separate organization except in emergency conditions when it was to augment the regular brigades.
The AFS expanded quickly with numbers growing to over 700 officers and men with 3 self propelled pumps and 77 trailer pumps. These units were stationed in fifteen stations which were established across the county.

Cross Border Dash
On the 15th April 1941 the Luftwaffe started to bomb further afield and headed for Belfast Northern Ireland. The city suffered heavy bombing and all brigades were stretched to the limit to cope with the onslaught. The Auxiliary Fire Service and the Dublin Fire Brigade in defiance of neutrality raced across the border to help their weary colleagues. Other brigades from Dun Laoghaire, Drogheda and Dundalk also answered the call.

German Bombs land on Dublin
Although Ireland had declared its neutrality at the beginning of the war, in 1941 bombs landed on several areas of the city. The explosions occurred on the night of 30/31 May 1941 when bombers dropped there loads on the northern part of Dublin. The areas hit were the North Circular Road, Summerhill Parade and North Strand. 38 people died with 70 houses being destroyed. Serious fires were started as a result and the firefighters worked valiantly amidst the carnage.
The bombers which were following two radio beacons which were to form an x over the target are be believed to have veered off course when the British transmitted a third beam which moved the cross hairs to a different location.
Whether the raid was deliberate or accidental is not known. At the end of the war the AFS was disbanded for the time being.

Regards...