24 Firefighters have undergone intensive training at Porth Mines Rescue, with an initial view to gaining a City & Guilds qualification, but they’ve exceeded expectations and have also gained the newest NVQ qualification introduced to meet industry standards.

Confined space rescue is just one aspect of a range of advanced training that 36 Firefighters based at a brand new Technical Rescue Unit, on Malpas Fire Station in Newport will carry out over the next two months.   The four day course has been designed to provide dedicated specialist training to the Firefighters, which will enable them to combine other rescue skills like line rescue and trauma care, to ensure they can get victims trapped in confined spaces out as quickly and safely as possible.

Firefighter Dave Vaughan, who has just completed the training and gained the new qualification, explained that the information and techniques he’s learned on the course have been provided to compliment and enhance the skills that all Firefighters already have.

““This is probably one of the most intensive training courses I’ve attended since I joined the Fire and Rescue Service” he said

He added:

“The training facilities here are fantastic and the exercises that we’ve participated in are extremely realistic and designed to test our skills to the limit.  All Firefighters receive basic training in confined space rescue and we’ve all done that, but this is additional training which will allow us to support our colleagues in Fire Stations who will be the first on the scene to rescues from confined spaces when these kind of incidents happen in their own Station areas.”

Brigadesman Robert England, is one of the instructors for Rhondda Valley based

Dinas Mines Rescue Station near Porth.  A collier at Maerdy colliery for 10 years, and a member of the Mines Rescue for 14 years, Robert also spent 18 years as a retained Firefighter at Porth Fire Station. 

He said: 

“Not only are the Firefighters learning the theory of confined space entry and emergency rescue which includes the appropriate paperwork they have to check  before entering confined spaces,  but we also concentrate on the important ‘hands on’ experience of rescue exercises,  where they find out about possible risks, including dangerous gases, flooding, explosions or collapse”.

The advanced training will mean that at least 6 Firefighters on each Watch of 9 at the new Technical Rescue Station will hold the NVQ level 2 - Safe Entry into Confined Spaces and NVQ level 3 – Emergency Rescue from Confined Spaces qualifications.  They will pass on their skills and experience in rescuing victims trapped in confined spaces like tunnels, sewers, vaults and storage silos to their colleagues both on the Technical Rescue Station and at Fire Stations throughout South Wales.