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Firefighters Train Beyond Burning Buildings
8 Feb
Summary
- Firefighters train for diverse incidents, not just fires.
- South Yorkshire crews responded to 13,638 incidents last year.
- New training sites sought to replicate realistic emergency scenarios.
Firefighters in South Yorkshire are preparing for a wider array of emergencies than commonly depicted, according to group manager Matthew Craig. While films often show dramatic rescues from burning buildings, the reality involves diverse incidents. Last year, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service's 600 firefighters tackled 13,638 incidents, averaging 37 per day.
The brigade is actively searching for novel training locations to better prepare its crews. Past exercises have utilized varied environments such as football stadiums, power stations, airports, and even subterranean culverts. Recently, a former retirement home and empty blocks of flats scheduled for demolition were used to simulate incident command scenarios.
Beyond fires, the service responds to numerous non-fire incidents. Data from the first half of 2024 revealed 80 animal rescues and 48 bariatric rescues. Additionally, over 300 road traffic collisions were attended in 2025. Craig stresses that continuous training is essential, stating, "Every day is a school day" in the fire service.
