Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 22/03/2009 16:13

14 March 2009

Fire crews from Orange watch at St Austell carried out an exercise at Park House Flats St Austell on Saturday 14 March at 10am.

The exercise was to test the fire service’s procedures at high rise incidents, in a scenario that mirrored an incident in Stevenage (Harrow Court) in 2005 where two firefighters and one resident lost their lives in a fire on the 14th floor of a tower block.

Martin Wingrove, Group Manager - Operations, says of the exercise, “This exercise is the culmination of six month’s work, across all fire brigade functions as well as with other agencies such as Cornwall and Devon Police and South West Ambulance Trust. The purpose of the exercise was to ensure that crews are trained in the correct procedures and risk assessments when attending high rise incidents. Park House is one of the only high rise residential buildings in Cornwall so it was felt appropriate that this extra training be carried out, to avoid a tragedy such as Harrow Court.”

The crew at St Austell fire station have already undertaken community safety activities with the warden and residents of Park House, ensuring that the staff and occupants are fully aware of the role of the fire service and the actions to be taken in a fire and rescue situation.

The response and protection teams at St Austell have, through joint audits and inspection, increased the fire safety arrangements on the premises as well as the risk information about the building that is to be carried on the appliances. This includes a detailed list of vulnerable people, names, disability and flat locations, which will help to ensure quick and decisive rescue arrangements.

The exercise itself simulated a fire on the 8th floor with persons reported missing. The first appliance to arrive conducted the initial dynamic risk assessment, followed operational procedures, gathered risk critical information, followed the tactical information plan and standard operating procedures relating to high rise incidents adopted by CCFB.

Appliances attending were:

St Austell - 2 appliances and the Operational Support Vehicle (OSV)

Mevagissey – 1 appliance

Fowey – 1 appliance

St Dennis – 1 appliance

Truro – Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) and Command Support Vehicle (CSV)

3 Supervisory Officers

The Police and Ambulance Service participated in the exercise in order to facilitate road closures and casualty care.

Ken Yeo, Executive Member for Public Protection says, “These exercises are vital to the progression of the skills of the fire service in Cornwall as well as ensuring maximum public safety at all times. We must give our thanks to the warden and residents of Park House for helping in the setting up of the exercise, as well as the resident who has kindly given up her flat for the morning. Without their assistance, and the assistance of other agencies such as police and ambulance services, these exercises could not go ahead effectively.”