FIREFIGHTERS staged a high-profile training exercise at a Fenland factory so they could brush up on their emergency rescue skills. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service organised a dramatic scenario where a forklift truck crashe

Story by: ANDREW PAPWORTH

FIREFIGHTERS staged a high-profile training exercise at a Fenland factory so they could brush up on their emergency rescue skills.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service organised a dramatic scenario where a forklift truck crashed into a food distribution site in March.

The 'incident' was held so that firefighters could keep up to speed with what it takes to save lives and experience a situation as realistic as possible.

The fake accident was put on last Thursday evening at G's Fresh Beetroot in March, where many staff members are employed as retained firefighters.

Wayne Marshall, a firefighter at March Fire Station and dispatch manager at G's Fresh Beetroot, said: "Exercises such as this are vital to make sure the fire service and members of staff are fully prepared for an emergency situation."

The exercise looked at what firefighters would do if a forklift truck smashed into industrial racking and caused an explosion, resulting in five casualties.

Artificial smoke was used inside the main warehouse on the Hostmoor Industrial Estate to make the scene look as realistic as possible.

The lights were also turned off so that firefighters could learn how to deal with an incident when plunged into darkness.

The scenario was designed to ensure crews from March, Wisbech and Chatteris also had good working knowledge of the site.

The Command Unit from Huntingdon and the turntable ladder from Dogsthorpe attended so the fire service could test its use of breathing apparatus.

In addition, they looked at procedures for managing crews at emergency scenes as well as rescue techniques. The event was followed by a detailed debrief.