ABOUT 30 volunteer firefighters from the Upper Hunter have taken part in a major field training exercise in the state’s north.
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The exercise, Northern 15, saw 450 members of the Rural Fire Service gather in Glen Innes to improve their firefighting capabilities.
Crews from Brayfield-Dury, Cassilis, Merriwa River, Wingen and Willow Tree travelled 400km to complete 12 training sessions, including bushfire fighting, structure fire, motor vehicle accident response, truck driving, water pumping and vehicle maintenance scenarios.
During the three-day exercise, at the Glen Innes Showground, the crews were tested on their co-ordinated response to various emergency scenarios.
The scenarios included how to handle a situation where a fire truck was entrapped by a fast-moving bushfire, the emergency landing of an aircraft, structure fires, gas fires and the crash scene of a vehicle with occupants trapped.
Other training included incident management techniques, leadership skills, maintenance protocols for fire equipment.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the event allowed volunteers to refresh their firefighting skills, learn new techniques, share ideas and catch up with firefighters from across the region.
