Safer drill towers for Norfolk's fire stations

Improvements to Norfolk fire stations which will help firefighters carry out lifesaving training exercises and prepare for public safety incidents have been completed.

A £1.75million investment by Norfolk County Council in 21 new training towers was completed earlier this month. It means that fire fighters can recreate real-life scenarios involving incidents at height, while still being available on local stations to respond to emergency calls.

Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Cabinet member for Partnerships at Norfolk County Council, said: "It is vital that fire fighters in our county get the best quality training facilities, so that we can ensure the public will continue to be safe. The new drill towers are a good step towards achieving this goal and I am sure the fire fighters will find them highly beneficial during regular training sessions. The towers have many safety features in place which means the fire fighters can train with greater peace of mind."

Several fire stations across Norfolk have received new drill towers to improve fire fighter safety.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service have spent £1.75million pounds on vital, new training towers that will help further improve staff safety will training on station and bolster the quality of staff training.

Scott Norman, Deputy Chief Fire Officer said: "Our old drill towers needed replacing and modernising, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service pride ourselves on excellent facility standards and staff safety. These new towers are much safer and will ensure our workforce will be best protected from harm while training to work at height.

The new four storey towers help protect our workforce from harm and fulfils the service's dedication to staff health and safety."

Our new towers are replacing older existing towers which had come to the end of their useful life. We have also invested in a new tower at a station which previously did not have this facility, this will be built in the near future.

Working at height training is vital in ensuring that fire crews are competent and safe while practising for dangerous rescues at height. By having access to state-of-the-art drill towers, crews across Norfolk can better prepare for working at height to ensure they can save residents in the safest manner possible.

After receiving funding and planning approvals in 2020, construction began on new drill towers at 21 Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service stations, including: Cromer, Holt, Mundesley, Acle, Martham, Stalham, Wroxham, Heacham, Massingham, Sandringham, Harleston, Hingham, Loddon, Long Stratton, Aylsham, Reepham, Wells, Methwold, Swaffham, Dersingham and East Harling Fire Stations.

After delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, work has recently completed on the towers after construction could resume in 2021.