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7
The Royal Navy's
Firefighting
School
is managed
Members will
be
aware
that
and operated by
Flagship Training Ltd
and was
commissioned
in 2001. The
School's
firefighting
many
Livery Companies
have
training
scenarios
are
fired by propane
gas
and
relationships with one or more
were designed
and built by Process Combustion
of Harrogate, North Yorkshire,
and
installed
branches of
the
armed
forces.
inside
eight
separate
three-deck
steel warship
Both
parties
benefit
by
such
an
units. The
simulated
fires
range
from
a
small
waste bin
through
to
a
full-scale
engine
room
fire
arrangement,
particularly
if
there
and with
the
ability
to
smoke
log
all
the
various
is
a
reason
for
the
relationship
compartment
complexes
through
various
levels
down
to
nil-visibility,
the
entire
facility provides
connected with
the origins of
the
some
very
realistic
yet
safe
and
repeatable
particular Company.
training. All
the
fires,
smoke,
and
lighting
are
computer
controlled
and
the
units
have
a
very
The
connection between
the Worshipful
high degree of
safety
features built
into
the
Company of
Firefighters
and
the Royal Navy's
control
system. Each
training
unit
is
equipped
Firefighting Training
School
is
not only
an obvious
with
a
catalytic oxidiser
to minimise
atmospheric
one, but
also
helps
to
remind
us
that
the modern
pollution
and
the
Firefighting
School
has
a
current
Fire
Service
had
its origins
in
the Royal Navy.
It
throughput of over 10,000
students per
annum.
was
for
these
reasons
that we made
contact with
HMS Excellent on Whale
Island, Portsmouth
Members will be
aware
that we
have
an
early
this
year,
and
in March
the Commanding
important
existing
initiative with
the
Sea Cadets,
Officer, Commander
Steve Layland, RN,
so
at
this
stage
the precise
nature of our ongoing
attended
as
an official
guest
at our Massey
Shaw
relationship with HMS Excellent
is
still
to be
Dinner.
established. However, we
hope
to
see
representatives of
the
School
at
some of our
HMS Excellent
houses part of
the overall
functions,
and
in
the
future
it may be possible
to
“Damage Control
and
Firefighting Training
arrange
a
visit
to
the
School
as part of our
social
School”,
and
everyone who
serves on
any
ship
in
programme,
acknowledging
that
there
are
some
the Navy must pass
through
there
at
least once
members who
have
expressed
an
interest
in
during
their
career
(more often
for officers).
more
visits of
a
“firefighting”
nature.
They
also
train other members of
the Armed
Services,
as well
as
cadets
and
visitors
from many
overseas
countries.
In
addition
to
shipboard
firefighting,
students
are
taught
how
to
keep
ships
afloat
following
structural/hull damage
whether
caused by
grounding or
inflicted
in
battle. This
training
employs
a
special
hydraulic
platform
that
can
simulate
the
list of
a
ship, whilst
the
trainees
inside
have
to
fight
to
stem
the
roar
of
incoming water. They
also
learn
about
nuclear,
biological
and
chemical defence
and
decontamination.
James Blott, Renter Warden
THE ROYAL NAVY'S
FIREFIGHTING
TRAINING
SCHOOL AT
HMS EXCELLENT, WHALE
ISLAND,
PORTSMOUTH
Picture
courtesy of
Flagship Training Limited.