Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 17/04/2009 15:46

Cornwall’s seven new fire recruits have all successfully completed a 13 week intensive training course with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service at Plympton.

The recruits had to undergo a challenging programme of practical training in a variety of subjects, including standard practices and techniques, community fire safety, breathing apparatus, road traffic collision rescue techniques and first aid, including trauma care.

As well as the practical skills, the course also includes a number of theoretical subject areas, covering all the hazards and risks facing a modern day firefighter, including an increasing number of ‘multi agency’ incident response scenarios. These include flooding, civil protection issues such as terrorism, and major incidents involving chemicals and hazardous substances, air and rail transport, extreme weather and building collapse.

Officers at the training course praised the dedication and commitment of all of Cornwall’s seven recruits. Particular praise went to Firefighter Ahsan Ishmael who was awarded the silver axe as a result of his consistently high performance throughout the course. He will now join Camborne Fire Station.

The other six recruits, all of whom passed the course, are:

Firefighter Martin Gallaway who will join Falmouth Fire Station
Firefighter Ben Matthew who will join Penzance Fire Station
Firefigher Duncan Raynor, who will join Truro Fire Station
Firefighter Peter Richardson, who will join St Austell Fire Station
Firefighter Ashley Rowland, who will join St Austell Fire Station
FireFighter Justin Smith who will join Falmouth Fire Station

Terry Standing, Cornwall’s Acting Chief Fire Officer, said “I am very proud of all our new recruits. Their dedication and commitment has been fantastic throughout the course and they fully deserve their success”.

Ken Yeo, the Council’s Executive Member for Protection Portfolio, added “I am delighted to welcome seven new recruits to Cornwall Fire Service. The service is held in high regard by the community and these trainees will now become members of a team which rely and depend on each other when working together. The modern fire service offers many opportunities to help make local communities a safer place to live and work and I am sure that each of them will have a long and successful career”.

Related item: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=7389