Firefighters in high-rise training exercise
Firefighters will be testing out their training for high-rise incident procedures at an empty block of flats in Bingley this weekend.
Crews from across the Bradford district will gather outside Brunswick House on Crosley Wood Road for the exercise on Saturday 24th August 2019.
The block has been offered to the fire service for the one-day training by the owners, Incommunities. It is one of three high-rise blocks at Crosley Wood which are empty and due for demolition in the coming weeks.
The fire safety exercise will involve high rise training search and rescue, which is practising search and rescue procedures in a realistic environment.
On the day, firefighters will set up a base outside Brunswick House.
Bradford District Commander, Ben Bush from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are delighted that Incommunities are supporting our district training strategy by providing us access to this empty building.
"These type of buildings give us opportunity to provide a realistic training environment for Bradford fire crews and robustly test our equipment and procedure for incidents such as a high rise building fire."
Angela Perry, Incommunities’ Assistant Chief Executive, Asset Management said: "We are delighted to make the building available to the fire service and have been liaising closely with them on the arrangements for their exercise.
"The three blocks – Brunswick House, Adelaide House and Peel House – are scheduled for demolition ahead of our exciting redevelopment plans and whilst they are empty it makes good sense to give the local Blue Watch the opportunity to make us of the site.
"We are committed to working with our colleagues from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to continually ensure the safety of our communities. Exercises like this show the importance of preparedness and the safety procedures in place across all our high and low rise properties."
Following Board approval, Incommunities have drawn up plans to build 93 family-sized homes on the site of the three high-rise blocks. The last of the remaining tenants were re-housed by Incommunities earlier this year.