The Hutt Valley Fire Police Unit supported the Silverstream and Stokes Valley Volunteer Fire Brigades at their Breathing Apparatus (BA) exercise in a disused dwelling on Eastern Hutt Road. The location of this exercise was on an 80km/h road that generally has a high volume of traffic. The eastern end of the exercise area was about 20 meters from a blind corner which meant that the safety of the fire crews, appliances and the public was the main effort for the Unit.

For the HVFP Unit not only was this a great opportunity to train with other brigades, this was also a very real activity due to its location.

In order to gain benefit from this exercise the Unit held its own exercise as part of the wider event, which involved instruction, training and real time support to the participating Brigades. The aim of our exercise was to protect the scene, close the shoulders of the road and maintain safe two way traffic flow on Eastern Hutt Rd throughout the whole activity. The initial Instruction was for our Officers on the correct placing of speed and shoulder closed signs and the correct spacing and layout of cones for an 80km/h area. Emphasis for the Unit was placed on Officer training and included the awareness of the safety of our own people (HVFP) while working on the road and their positioning so as not to distract motorists as they travelled through the exercise area.

Fire Appliances shrouded by mist... or actually, smoke generated for exercise purposes!

Overall the exercise proved very valuable to the Officers and members of the Unit that participated, with 300-400 meters of shoulder closed and controlled using the correct signage and equipment. It also proved valuable in testing the interaction of command and control between the Officers of the Unit and the Incident Commander and Officers from Silverstream and Stokes Valley Brigades.

HVFP were able to 'shed a little light' on operations.

The Fire Police Unit would also like to pass on a special thanks on to Mr Brett Millns, Director of Total Telecommunications Ltd for his support to the Unit through the use of the correct warning signs and equipment that he has loaned us to use in our training. The loan of the correct equipment has allowed the Unit to train and practice in a safe and professional manner.

The Unit also thanks the Silverstream and Stokes Valley Volunteer Fire Brigades for inviting us to participate in their exercise.

Article by SSO David Ackroyd. Photos by FP Bruce Key.