North West Fire and Rescue Services join forces on high-rise training exercises

*Photo Credit: Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

Exercises ran in the morning and afternoon and involved ten fire engines from the Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services, plus a series of specialist vehicles (including an aerial appliance, a Command Unit and drones).

Volunteers from the University of Central Lancashire were situated inside the flats to simulate residents. As part of the exercise, students began making emergency calls to the Fire and Rescue Services’ Control Rooms, enabling fire Control Room operators to test out their own procedures and provide evacuation advice.

Initial response and escalation

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service works closely with housing providers and local authorities alike to ensure the safety of those living within high-rise buildings. Gaywood Green – which is managed by the Livv Housing Group – has been used by the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service for training exercises since January 2020.

The latest exercises were designed to test the initial response and escalation of a developing fire at a high-rise building, as well as the vital liaison between residents, fire Control Rooms and incident command on the ground.

The morning exercise was managed by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service’s Control Room and the afternoon session by the North West Fire Control Room, which is based in Warrington.

New technology

The training exercises provided a platform for looking at the type of new technology now available to Fire and Rescue Services, including a brand new directional speaker which allows firefighters to communicate an alarm and evacuation advice into the building from outside.

Phil Byrne (Group manager at the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, who planned and co-ordinated the exercise) said: “As a sector, the Fire and Rescue Service is progressive and strives to deliver the best possible service to its communities. This is the second time in 12 months that the North West region has been able to lay on an exercise of this scale.”

Byrne continued: “It was fantastic to see fire crews and Control Rooms from across the North West joining forces and putting into practice all of our training and procedures. We’re extremely grateful for the continued support of the Livv Housing Group. The opportunity to exercise in a real high-rise building environment is so important. Thanks also to the rapid relief team for providing hot food and drinks to all those involved in the exercise and the local residents of Kirkby for their support while we undertake these vital training events.”