Hot fire training

Conference is appalled that some Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs), following cuts to their
budgets or for other organisational reasons seek to provide the bare minimum of required
training to fi refi ghters. One such area is that of breathing apparatus training and in particular hot
fi re training with some FRSs providing one day bi-annually.

Conference believes that the national guidance provided to FRSs on the use of breathing
apparatus falls short of what is an acceptable safe standard for fi refi ghters to gain the valuable
experience needed to operate in this environment.

Conference therefore calls on the Executive Council to raise this matter in the appropriate arena
and seek to amend the current national guidance issued to FRSs on the use of and the training
connected with the use of breathing apparatus to what the FBU, as the recognised workplace
safety representatives, believe is an appropriate safe standard.