‘Collapsed building’ puts firefighters to the test

Around a dozen firefighters manned East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s two Technical Rescue Units (TRU) and descended on the old Grove School in Hastings to simulate a rescue operation involving a collapsed building.

Fire crews from Hastings were first on the scene to carry out a recce of the building, as would happen in real life, before the TRU crews from Battle and Lewes moved in.

Firefighters created supports on the way in to the ‘collapsed’ building and used specialist equipment to cut through walls to reach two ‘casualties’.

The TRU teams carry out regular training exercises and will be in action again at a larger exercise in Brighton this week.

Battle Fire Station is currently at risk of being downgraded to retained status, 
with a loss of nine whole time posts.

The station’s Technical Rescue Unit, which attends incidents throughout the county, is manned by specially trained wholetime staff.

If the full time firefighters are removed from Battle, the Technical Rescue Unit will also be lost as there will be no one to crew it.

A decision on the future of the fire station is due to be made next month.