Bedfordshire firefighters turn heads with ‘rope rescue’ at top of library building

FIREFIGHTERS turned heads (and cranes) in Luton last week when they staged a practice rescue at the top of the town’s new library building.

The Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service climbed a crane towering above the construction site as part of a ‘Rope Rescue Simulation’ to test their ability to rescue people from high places.

Station Command Derek Hobbs, who helps train Bedfordshire Firefighters in rope rescue, said: “The training exercise involved the rescue of a dummy casualty from a crane in the centre of Luton being used in the construction of the new Luton Library building.

“During the simulation our fire crew ascended the crane tower to stabilise the dummy victim’s condition before lowering them to the ground for treatment by the emergency services.

“The rope rescue simulation was carried out by crews from the Technical Rescue Unit based at Dunstable Community Fire Station.

“These crews are currently training to undertake rescues from height which will be useful for dealing with similar situations involving other high places across the county.

“This could be a high rise block of flats or the steep slopes of Dunstable Downs.

“In April 2014 we rescued a man who had become stuck on the roof of Odell Church, so we’re ready for anything!

“The Technical Rescue Unit has been training for several months in rope rescue and will soon be nationally recognised as experts in this form of incident.

“This simulation was used to assess the crews’ abilities and, as with any training exercise, lessons have been learnt which will aid our future rope rescues.”