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 firefighters. One such area is that of breathing apparatus training and in particular hot fire 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 firefighters 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.