FIREFIGHTERS developed their knowledge and skills during a ‘challenging’ night of training at a pub in Barrow.

Crews from Barrow Fire Station underwent a training exercise at the Furness Railway in Barrow on Thursday night which involved locating a number of casualties and extinguishing a 'fire'.

Firefighters responded to a large basement ‘fire’ during the training exercise in which they had to use search rescue techniques find casualties and put out the blaze.

The Mail: CALL OUT: Firefighters responded to a large basement ‘fire’ during the training exercise in BarrowCALL OUT: Firefighters responded to a large basement ‘fire’ during the training exercise in Barrow

A spokesman for Barrow Fire Station said: "Challenging exercise for all attending fire crews.

"Large basement fire with sleeping accommodation above, in a complex building.

"Teams from Barrow, Barrow On-Call, Walney Fire Station and Ulverston Blue Light Hub involved, using breathing apparatus and search rescue techniques to locate a number of casualties and extinguish the fire.

"Thanks to White Watch, especially Paul Wight for all the organisation.”

The Mail: TEAM: Crews from Barrow Fire Station underwent a training exercise at the Furness Railway in BarrowTEAM: Crews from Barrow Fire Station underwent a training exercise at the Furness Railway in Barrow

Roger Exley, Barrow Fire Station manager, said these training exercises, which are undertaken by each station in the county throughout the year, help maintain a ‘high level of operational readiness’.

He said: "Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service has a duty to ensure all their operational firefighters and officers train and learn on risk sites in their own area and across the county.

"This will ensure crews develop their knowledge and skills when dealing with incidents.

"Each station across the county must organise and take part in a number of training exercises throughout the year maintain a high level of operational readiness.

The Mail: WORK: the night involved locating a number of casualties and extinguishing a 'fire'WORK: the night involved locating a number of casualties and extinguishing a 'fire'

"All this training, and it includes fires, water rescue, height safety, road traffic accidents, hazardous materials and incidents in high rise buildings, will ensure we develop our new firefighters and build on the knowledge or our more experienced teams.

"We get great support from businesses across the Furness area and this means that we get the experience but also means the business get a team of firefighters that know their sites and should a fire or incident occur there will be a better outcome."