Joint Fire and Rescue Service Exercise a success

Firefighters from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service at the exercise Nr Nash, Ludlow. The firefighters are pictured using heavy rescue equipment provided by H&W urban search and rescue team at the scene of the mock road traffic collision.

Shropshire and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Services' held a joint exercise on 9 May 2008 in Nash, Nr Ludlow.

The aim of the joint exercise was to improve working practices between the Services' and to evaluate search and rescue equipment used at road traffic collisions and building collapses.

The scene was attended by approximately thirty firefighters along with three organisers and three observers. Combined fire crews included Tenbury Wells and Cleobury Mortimer, rescue tenders from Droitwich and Wellington, and two Urban Search and Rescue teams from Hereford & Worcester carrying heavy rescue equipment.

County Councillor and Member of the Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority, Major Adrian Coles, said "this was an excellent example of neighbouring Fire and Rescue Service's working together as one".

Councillor Major Coles also praised the high quality of both the equipment being used and the skill of its operators.

Jason Norgrove, exercise organiser from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said "these training events are necessary to ensure the general public receive the highest quality of service possible".

Councillor Major Adrian Coles (left) pictured with District Officer Jim Quinn at the training exercise near Ludlow

Firefighters from Shropshire and Hereford & Worcester deal with a mock road traffic collision

15th May, 2008