The Fire Service College has opened a new state-of-the-art breathing apparatus (BA) training school at its incident training ground in Moreton-in-Marsh. The facility will provide training on the full range of compressed air breathing apparatus (CABA) and will be run in partnership with leading technology provider Dräger. This will ensure the College’s training curriculum will be delivered using the most up-to-date equipment available. Up to 200 delegates will be able to undergo training at any one time, expanding the College’s ability to deliver assessed, accredited and assured training to fire and rescue services across the UK and internationally.
The new facility houses four networked briefing rooms, in which delegates will learn how to service and prepare BA equipment. Improved delegate facilities include three new drying rooms and an expanded provision of showers and changing spaces, incorporating an innovative sealed ‘dirty room’. The room has been specially designed to minimise the spread of contaminants during the removal and changing of personal protective equipment.
Peter Dartford QFSM, president of the Chief Fire Officers Association and Chief Fire Officer of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, opened the facility on Thursday 8 January. Speaking at the launch, Peter said, “The opening of this facility is a fantastic step forward in the transformation of the Fire Service College and the investment in state-of-art equipment and facilities is another tangible demonstration of the progress that is being made to develop a true centre of excellence of firefighter training. The Chief Fire Officers Association is fully supportive of the transformation that is taking place at the College and to our partnership which is delivering benefits to firefighter training and safety across the UK and beyond.”
Jez Smith, managing director of the Fire Service College, commented: “This new facility is testament to the investment we are making in building a true centre of excellence for fire service training in the UK. It will allow us to train more delegates to a higher standard – ensuring that the public and firefighters across the UK are kept as safe as possible.”
“Dräger will be an integral delivery partner for the new facility. Our new partnership will further enhance the College’s ability to deliver high quality, assessed, accredited and assured training in the most modern of environments.”
Mike Norris, Managing Director of Dräger UK, said: “We are delighted to be able to strengthen the existing strategic alliance between the Fire Service College and Dräger UK.”
“The opening of this state-of-the-art training centre offers us a fantastic opportunity to develop further our relationship with the College, and we wholeheartedly share its vision and aspirations for the new training facility to become the UK centre of excellence for firefighting best practice and in particular the use of Breathing Apparatus.”
“We have worked closely with the Fire Service College for many years now, offering holistic solutions including equipment, specialist training and servicing and we look forward to doing so well into the future”.
The facility is the first product of a new strategic alliance between the Fire Service College and Dräger. Dräger has supported the College for a long period, providing safety equipment, specialist trainers and servicing. It has also provided direct support on a number of key UK government training contracts managed by the College. Beyond the new BA training facility, the partnership will see the College and Dräger work together to develop new products, expert training – and provide the opportunity to test and showcase the latest in fire safety equipment.
Further information on the Fire Service College, go to www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk
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