Major high rise training exercise in Kirkby

A Knowsley tower block played host to a major training exercise this week when fire and rescue services from across the North West put their high rise procedures and interoperability to the test. Around 100 emergency service staff, 12 fire engines and multiple support vehicles descended on the unoccupied Gaywood Green, on Broad Lane, Kirkby, on Monday, 14 March 2022, as part of the exercise.

The training day involved 4 exercises simulating a fire in Block 3 of Gaywood Green, with actors posing as residents in need of evacuation. Crews from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS), Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service all took part in the day, with each service taking a lead role in 1 of the exercises with the support from the other three. Crews from Cumbria Fire and Rescue also attended to support the exercise.

Designed to test a number of key areas and give new firefighters the opportunity to experience a realistic fire and evacuation scenario in a high rise building, the exercise was also a fantastic opportunity for all fire and rescue services involved to share best practice and learning. Fire Control room staff were also tested against their procedures, as well handling the:- 999 calls and incident ground messages, the control room had to provide fire survival guidance over the phone to the live casualties in the building who supported the exercise.

MFRS Group Manager Phil Byrne said:- "While the risk of serious fire in a high rise building in Merseyside is low thanks in large part to our preventative work in the community, the Grenfell Tower tragedy is a constant reminder of what can happen when those risks become real. This exercise not only gave us a real opportunity to test our current procedures and national guidance; ensuring they are robust, effective and fit for future; but it also allowed us to work closely with cross border fire and rescue services and share learning and best practice."

MFRS works closely with housing providers and Local Authorities to ensure the safety of those living within high rise buildings.

Gaywood Green is thought to be the only empty high rise building in the North West being used by a fire service to undertake live practice scenarios. MFRS last carried out a large scale training exercise there in July 2021, with smaller scale exercises having taken place there on a regular basis since January 2020.

GM Byrne added:- "Exercises like this are vital and we are truly grateful to Livv Housing and the local community for giving us, and our fellow north west FRSs, the opportunity to carry out a large exercise in a realistic setting. All of our staff are trained in high rise procedure on a regular basis but being able to put their skills truly to the test in such challenging and realistic scenarios is paramount to ensuring we are all best equipped and prepared to deal with such incidents."

The exercise will be thoroughly evaluated and any learning outcomes will be shared both locally and nationally in effort to improve safety for all and hopefully reduce the possibility of future high rise fires.

Tony Cahill, Executive Director for Property at Livv Housing Group, said:- "The safety and protection of our residents is of the upmost importance to us, which is why we are proud to be working in partnership with the fire services to help them prepare for high rise emergency incidents. We have been working with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service since 2018, initially starting with smaller-scale exercises at Gaywood Green. As their work has grown considerably in terms of reach, where they now undertake joint exercises with surrounding fire and rescue authorities, it's really important that officers from across the Region are able to experience training in a live high rise environment. It was great to see other fire services being able to bring their teams along in considerable numbers and the series of exercises will ensure that all crews are fully prepared in the event of a major high rise incident."

High rise specific fire safety advice can be found on the MFRS website. For free fire safety advice or to request a home fire safety check, please call:- 08007315958.
 

Businesses to benefit from extension to Plug In Van and Truck Grants

BUSINESSES will be supported to make the switch to electric as the Government commits to a 2 year extension of Plug In Van and Truck Grants, that will cover 2024/25) The move is expected to support the purchase of tens of thousands of greener vans and trucks and will help make the UK less reliant on imports of foreign oil, improving the security of our energy supply and reducing our vulnerability to volatility in global energy prices.

In 2021, industry figures showed the UK had the highest number of plug in electric vans sold in Europe, and there were around 4 times as many grant applications compared to 2020. Existing grants have supported the purchase of more than 26,000 electric vans and HGVs across the UK since the programme launched in 2012.

With nearly 5% of the UK's CO2 emissions currently coming from vans, the 2 year extension to these grants and the switch to greener vehicles is essential to support the Government's climate change and air quality commitments.

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said:- "When it comes to clean business, this Government means business. We are backing a generation of green growth for our thriving fleet sector. As demand for electric vehicles continues to grow at speed, this extension to our grant scheme will allow tens of thousands more vans to be purchased, transporting goods in a way which is kinder to our environment. This will support our vital, ongoing work to clean up our air in Towns and Cities right across the country and build back greener."

Government grants for electric vans and trucks has helped kickstart the market, which now offers more than 30 models of electric vans and trucks which qualify for such schemes. Electric vehicles are becoming more popular and affordable, and the number of available models will continue to rise, allowing more people and businesses to benefit from the lower running costs of greener vehicles.

This Government has committed ₤2.5bn to vehicle grants and chargepoint infrastructure to support the transition to zero emission vehicles to date, and Plug In Vehicle Grant Schemes have supported the purchase of over 450,000 ultra low emission vehicles across the UK; including more than 300,000 zero emission vehicles.

As well as the extension to grant schemes, the Government has also announced it will continue to allow drivers holding standard car driving licences to drive electric goods vans at a higher weight limit, up to 4.25 tonnes (compared to a 3.5 tonne limit for diesel vans).

This takes into account the additional weight of electric vehicle batteries and makes it easier for businesses and drivers to make the switch.

To ensure funding and taxpayers' money goes where it's really needed and supports the transition to zero emission vehicles, eligibility criteria for existing Plug In Vehicle Grants will also be recategorised from the spring with a focus on heavier vehicles.

From 1 April 2022, the threshold to claim the small truck grant of up to ₤16,000 will be increased from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes. Vans up to 4.25 tonnes will be able to claim the large van grant of up to ₤5,000. With the increasing number of large vans on the market, the move will ensure Government targets support where it's most needed, allowing for heavier and more costly trucks, up to 12 tonnes, to benefit from the higher grant funding.

This change will ensure funding is focussed on helping more polluting trucks to make the switch to a zero-emission future.

It will be possible to submit orders for vehicles currently eligible and impacted by this change at the higher grant rate until 31 March 2022, subject to the Plug in Truck Grant 250 annual limit not being reached.

Statistics to support the claim that the UK sold the highest number of plug in electric vans in Europe in 2021 can be found here.

It is worth adding that the licensing flexibility for 3.5 to 4.25 tonne electric goods vans also applies to other alternatively fuelled power trains.