Fire fighters have been getting some valuable training at a derelict house in Park Gate as part of a week-long exercise to enhance skills and reduce injuries.
Crews from Fareham, Gosport and Cosham lit several small fires in the house in Edenbridge Way, and they plan to escalate the scale of the exercises as the week goes on.
Live burns have been taking place at the site for the crews to practice. Some issues they came across included problems in communication with the radios because of the noise from fans, as well as the fumes and the firefighters getting wet and steamed from the rain.
Fire fighters on site at a derelict house in Park Gate doing a live fire training exercise
Wessex Demolition and Salvage is under contract to flatten the old house before five new homes are built on the site. But under a new arrangement with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, they have given the fire fighters permission to carry out the exercise.
Fareham station manager Paul Coates, who was leading the project, said: “We have lost firefighters and there have been injuries in recent years. This is probably the best training we can do to overcome this and develop our skills. It is a live fire situation, but it is controlled.”
The service hopes that by working with Wessex they will get up to 150 buildings a year on which to practice their skills. They will also tackle blazes at industrial properties, schools and high-rise buildings.
Mr Coates added: “With different types of building we’ll be able to practise other skills such as search and rescue, collapsed buildings, drill holes and abseiling. Without Wessex we wouldn’t get this training.”
Jonathan Oliver works part-time for Wessex and is also a member of the retained fire crew at Portchester. He approached his bosses when he saw the property was scheduled for demolition.
Ashley Grant, contracts manager for Wessex, said: “It’s all about helping out the community. Any opportunity we get, we will offer the building to Hampshire Fire and Rescue.”
Residents nearby were sent letters warning them about the exercise
