Hampshire firefighters host safety seminar on heritage buildings

Test Valley is home to multiple heritage properties which were represented at the event by their site managers.

The participants learned how they can prevent fires and how to assist firefighters at the safety event at Broadlands House in Romsey.

The buildings have unique architectural features that create unique risks that crews should be aware of before tackling incidents there.

Firefighters at Romsey Abbey (Image: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service)

Rikki Noble, HIWFRS Station Manager for Test Valley, said: “The morning was extremely well received by the site managers of our local heritage buildings.

“Many were able to benefit from the session and have now developed a greater understanding of how they can prevent fire, but also have an awareness of how they can help us out if we were ever called to an incident at their properties.

“We look forward to building upon these relationships and continuing to provide the best possible protection to our heritage sites.

“As an organisation we want to use this session as a blueprint for how we engage with these types of properties across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

“Once again I’d like to thank the Countess of Mountbatten of Burma for generously providing us with the facilities at Broadlands House to run this vital session.”

Fire safety seminar at Broadlands (Image: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service)

HIWFRS teams are working with the heritage buildings to gather information specific to that site, such as which is the best entrance point for a fire engine, where the hydrants are and creating salvage plans, so firefighters know which historical artefacts to save first, if an incident got to that stage.

Working with fire panel manufacturer, Advanced, the site managers were given an overview of fire detection systems on the market, and which were best for their different sites.

Rikki Noble explained what a senior firefighter’s considerations would be when arriving at a fire involving a heritage building before Richard Jordan-Baker from Broadlands House shared the salvage plans Broadlands has developed.

Fire stations across the Test Valley area will now be consolidating the relationship with their local heritage sites by conducting familiarity visits every six months.