DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL is to introduce new fees for fire brigade callouts from Monday, 16 January.

The council released a public notice yesterday to inform residents of the changes in fire service charges.

It will now charge for any call-outs and fire-fighting services provided to domestic premises and road traffic accidents.

A fee of €500 will apply for the first hour of services supplied at domestic fires, false alarms and chimney fires.

In the case of call-outs to road traffic accidents, the charge increases to €610. For every subsequent hour, a further €450 to €485 will be charged.

The council advised that most home insurance policies will cover fire call-out charges and can be recouped by householders.

No charges will apply to local authority-owned properties. DCC also said there will be an appeal system in place for cases of hardship.

It has also urged people to continue to call for assistance if needed and not to be put off by the charge.

However, SIPTU fire-fighters have rejected these claims, stating their opposition to the charges.

SIPTU representatives have said they fear the introduction of charges will deter householders from calling emergency numbers, therefore endangering their own lives.

“Fire-fighters across the country already experience a situation where elderly people in particular will attempt to deal with a house or chimney fire themselves rather than face a possible charge for calling the fire-service,” SIPTU Sector Organiser, Owen Reidy has said.

The new charges will apply to residents of the city, as well as Fingal, South Dublin and Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown.