Fire crews from across Worcestershire deployed to a ‘burning’ tall building in Kidderminster last week.
Fortunately no one was in real danger as this was the Service’s latest training exercise, which saw crews carry out rescue and fire survival guidance using Coniston House, Hurcott Road and its surroundings.
This partnership exercise between the site’s Community Housing and HWFRS North District provided us with an ideal opportunity to test rescue procedures from a tall building.
The exercise involved quantities of non-harmful cosmetic smoke, activation of the building’s fire alarm and a limited amount of noise as emergency services staff grappled with the situation.
Some six appliances were used for the training, deploying from stations across the area.
Invaluable support was also provided by other ‘blue light’ agencies including West Mercia Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service.
Some 20 enthusiastic volunteers from St Augustine’s Catholic High School were also present, acting as trapped residents who needed rescuing.
Watch Commander Andrew Dalton, from HWFRS’s North District, the exercise lead, said:
“This was an invaluable opportunity to test out and improve our fire and rescue procedures. We received total support from other blue light colleagues