A major training exercise will be launched by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service at Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury, next week.
Firefighters from Shrewsbury, Minsterley, Bishops Castle and Baschurch will react to an emergency call reporting a major fire at an accommodation block at Shelton Hospital with people reported missing.
They will respond as usual to the event which will give firefighters the opportunity to practice operational procedures and rescue techniques while wearing breathing apparatus.
Brigade observers will check all levels of reaction to the emergency from when the 999 call is received on the evening of December 13 at fire control HQ in Shrewsbury to firefighters arriving at the scene and incident commanders taking charge of the operation, said exercise organiser Neil Maguire.
“These are valuable training exercises which allow us to also demonstrate the correct and effective use of search and rescue procedures with firefighters wearing breathing apparatus to locate missing people,” he said.
Fire crews will meet in Somerby Drive, Shrewsbury, at 7pm on the day to begin the training exercise which is also being attended by police.
South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare Trust, which owns Shelton Hospital, were praised for allowing Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to use the site for the in depth training venue.
The county fire service holds a number of similar training exercises each year to practice their skills in readiness for any major fire and rescue incident in Shropshire.
