Fire drill sparks health concern
Reporter: BEATRIZ AYALA
Date published: 08 September 2011
Station defends realistic training
OLDHAM firefighters have defended the use of a groundbreaking training exercise after complaints were made by local residents.
Crews at the Lees Road station sparked concern when they began using a new way of training officers.
Philip Speed, of Union Street, Oldham, said he had regularly spotted clouds of smoke billowing from the fire station during the past fortnight.
He added: “I’m quite a healthy person so I’m concerned about breathing it in.”
Oldham Fire Station has been the first across Greater Manchester to use a number of steel containers as part of a more realistic way of training.
The contraptions burn solid fuel and recreate the conditions of a house fire.
Previously, gas-burning systems had been used but they did not allow firefighters to experience the signs of the deadly and explosive backdraughts and flashovers.
A planning application to use the new training method was submitted in March and approved by Oldham Council.
Jim O’Byrne, project manager, said 800 properties adjacent to the site were invited to have their say as part of a consultation exercise during the planning process.
He added: “The training is designed to improve the skills and efficiency of firefighters who attend incidents both within Oldham and across Greater Manchester.
“It is protecting lives and properties — allowing them to recognise very distinct signs so they can deal with fires quickly and safely.
“We are unaware of the specific number of complaints received but staff have been working with representatives from the council to address issues raised.”
Test burns have been carried out and assessed using the Environment Agency’s air quality assessment methodology.
Mr Byrne said the type of material being burned was specially-manufactured to produce smoke with a minimal environmental impact.
“The site is in use up to five times a week and it is envisaged that this training will continue at the site with actual burning taking place for about two hours per day,” he said.
