Smoke curtains rolled out across Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has rolled out new technology to help fight fires and protect people while responding to incidents.

Adding to the wide range of equipment already used, new smoke blocking curtains have been provided for fire engines across Cambridgeshire. The curtains are used to contain the smoke from a fire, helping to keep neighbouring residents safe, and reduce the impact of the smoke on the rest of the property.

The specialist equipment will mainly be used within multi-occupancy accommodation such as care homes or flats. They help contain the smoke from a fire to the room of origin. In addition, they give firefighters the ability to fight a fire from within the building whilst protecting the means of escape for other residents.

While popular in Europe, CFRS is one of the first to roll them out in England and they will now feature on fire appliances at every station in the county.

The curtains were procured earlier in the year and firefighters have now received robust training on how to use them effectively. Since their launch they have already been used at real life incidents in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

CFRS has been leading the way with the new equipment and recently held an online seminar for fire service colleagues across the UK to learn more about them and share their expertise. Over 50 colleagues from 15 counties across the country joined the training team to hear first-hand the benefits of the new kit.

Watch Commander James Ball, who’s been instrumental in the roll out of the equipment commented:

“Smoke curtains are an exceptional tool to help us tackle fires. They enable us to simultaneously evacuate a property whilst also tackling the fire, helping to protect residents and keep them safe from the smoke.

“We’ve seen how effective they can be in real life scenarios, and it’s fantastic to see so many other fire services interested in what we’re doing and how they can benefit their own response to fire.”

Head of Training and Development, Group Commander John Sherrington, added: “We’re always looking at the latest developments and new technology to ensure we maintain operational excellence and deliver the most effective response at incidents.

“New equipment, like the smoke curtains, will help us protect residents while ensuring the safety of our staff remains a priority.

“Our training team have worked incredibly hard to get these rolled out across the Service over the last few months and many other services are benefiting from this learning nationally.”