KENT NEWS:
A fizzy-drinks factory in Folkestone has hosted a full-scale live emergency exercise by fire brigades, councils, the police and Government agencies.
Silver Springs Mineral Water in Park Farm Road was the venue on Saturday February 27 for the project, designed to test the emergency services’ response to a big fire at an industrial site storing chemicals.
Staff from Kent Fire and Rescue Service, East Sussex Fire and Rescue, Shepway council, the Environment Agency, the Highways Agency and Kent Police all took part in the exercise.
Fire-fighters, eight appliances and specialist vehicles from east Kent and East Sussex, including two high-volume pumps capable of delivering up to 8,000 litres of water per minute, helped tackle a replicated fire in a warehouse.
Crews were tested on how well they worked with each other to bring the fire under control. Plans for supplying the vast quantities of water needed for tackling a fire at the site were also examined, while officers in charge of the exercise were also watched to see how well they commanded and controlled the incident.
Exercise director Russ Jordan said before the exercise: “Genuine incidents at premises like Silver Springs can throw up extra challenges.
“This exercise is a good opportunity for all the agencies to practise because we can control the environment, enabling us to further develop the skills needed for tackling an incident so that we are ready when the real thing happens.”
POSTED: 10/03/2010 12:58:56
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend: