8:03am Thursday 15th October 2009
SPECIALIST crews from Farnworth Fire Station were called to a major chemical “scare” which saw about 100 people being exposed to an unknown substance in a simulated exercise.
Firefighters from Farnworth were among the 75 from Greater Manchester taking part in a major training exercise at Salford University to test operational systems and equipment put in place as part of the New Dimensions project.
The scheme is a network of nationally available resources and equipment designed to increase the emergency services’ capabilities to deal with large-scale incidents, outside the norm.Farnworth fire station houses a special decontamination unit.
Yesterday’s exercise mocked up a situation where a large number of people had been accidentally exposed to a unknown chemical and had to be cleaned off through a large-scale, mobile showering system.
The “real time” scenario involved fire service personnel working Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team and emergency planning agencies to assist cleaning up to 100 people. The Hazardous Area Response Team, is made up of paramedics are trained and equipped to work in high-risk environments, providing advanced life-support, triage and treatment to those affected by a major incident whether it be a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear.
Assistant County Fire Officer Tony Ciaramella said: “It is vitally important to test our equipment and procedures regularly to ensure we maintain the high standards that the public has come to expect of its fire and rescue service.
“Large-scale simulations, involving our partner agencies, ensure we are not only well trained and equipped but are well prepared to work together to help the public”.
Insp Steve Gerrard from GMP’s Salford Division, said: “Exercises such as these are vitally important to test how prepared we are if such an incident should arise. It really is a team effort between the key agencies involved and I hope the event will reassure members of the community that we are ready for any situation.”
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