Water rescue training for firefighters

Firefighters from neighbouring Welshpool have been undergoing specialist water rescue training with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service for emergencies in Montgomeryshire and the wider region.

The retained firefighters have been given the specialist training due to the regular flooding of the Severn Valley area, as well as  for other areas in Montgomeryshire or where they're needed in he region.

The completion of this training now means that Welshpool Fire Station is part of a pool of six others in the MAWWFRS region to be able to deliver this emergency response to its communities. These include, Carmarthen, Swansea Central, Hay on Wye, and Aberystwyth.

Each station has been equipped with specialist personal protection and technical rescue equipment, including a 4 metre inflatable craft which has been specially selected for its capability of operating in swift water environments. The craft is powered by a 30hp outboard engine.

The training involved an intensive 4 day course at Llandysul, which incorporated various practical and theoretical sessions covering many water related topics. These included river dynamics and features, contact rescues in water using recognised methods, the use of boats on a tether and technical rope skills to conduct various water rescue techniques in water and from the river bank.