Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) has taken a rare opportunity to train in one of Liverpool’s foremost heritage sites to ensure readiness for any future incidents at precious heritage sites across Merseyside. The opportunity to train at the Maritime Museum has been generously offered by National Museums Liverpool and is an incredible chance for the Fire and Rescue Service to train in realistic conditions with the unique challenges that heritage buildings present.

The training has been made possible as the Maritime Museum, situated at Hartley Quay in Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock is currently closed to the public as it is undergoing extensive renovation. This presented a rare opportunity for firefighters to engage in realistic training in a unique environment which would not normally be available.

The training exercise simulates a fire on the third floor of the building on Hartley’s Quay and will test firefighting, rescue and evacuation procedures. Given the nature of the site there will also be the opportunity to train for the safe removal of priceless and irreplaceable artifacts and exhibits by firefighters in the event of an incident.

The exercise involves five fire engines and multiple firefighters, simulating a fire on the third floor of the building amid construction work, with missing people in a busy tourist area of the city. This also gives Museum staff the valuable opportunity to test their own emergency procedures as the exercise begins with them making an emergency 999 call after the discovery of a fire on the premises. There will be some artificial smoke on the third floor and firefighters will ‘charge’ (i.e. fill with water) hoses to test procedures but will not spray any water. Members of the public will see firefighters moving in and out of the building, performing an evacuation and rescuing dummy casualties and people acting as casualties or missing persons in the simulation. The exercise will be even more realistic owing to that fact that the fire crews involved will have no notice of the nature or location of the exercise until they are informed by Fire Control, just as in a real-life incident.

MFRS Group Manager Phil Byrne, co-ordinating the exercise, said:

‘We are extremely grateful to National Museums Liverpool for allowing us to take this unique opportunity to train at a heritage site in a very realistic scenario with all the challenges that presents. Training such as this will ensure readiness for any future incident that may occur at one of the many fantastic heritage sites across Liverpool and Merseyside so we can save lives and preserve our heritage for future generations.’ 

Any disruption will be minimal as the exercise only runs for around an hour and a half from 11am. Hartley’s Quay will be cordoned off to vehicular traffic for the duration of the exercise, however pedestrians will be able to move freely through the area. The exercise will ensure that MFRS are ready for any incident that may occur at heritage sites across Merseyside.