BA Training Exercise (2016)

Published 3 April 2016 · Updated 9 October 2026

DATE

2 April 2016

LOCATION

University of York, Heslington, York

EMERGENCY SERVICES INVOLVED

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

SCENARIO

Major fire at a high-risk dwelling with simulated casualties

SUMMARY

Crews from seven North Yorkshire stations trained in a disused university accommodation block filled with smoke and casualty dummies. Breathing-apparatus teams searched the building, supported by a rescue unit and incident command unit. Observers evaluated new procedures, including an oxygen management team, and the exercise was reported as successful.

VIEW REPORT

BA Training Exercise (2016)

Saturday 2 April saw firefighters from across North Yorkshire descend on York for a training exercise. A disused university accommodation block was filled with smoke and dummies to simulate a major fire at a high risk dwelling.

Crews arrived in their appliances from York, Acomb, Huntington, Easingwold, Tadcaster, Northallerton and Ripon. This turnout was supplemented by Tadcaster’s Rescue Unit and the brigade incident command unit form Northallerton. The command unit, Volvo N765 YEF, has been recently refitted inside and this was one of the first outings for it. Crews worked with breathing apparatus to search the property while fire service observers charted their progress.

This exercise allowed new protocols to be evaluated including use of an oxygen management team. Station Manager Pete Gregory concluded that “The exercise in general was a success and the objectives were achieved, with some valuable learning in the process.”

BA Training Exercise (2016)