A high-rise flats training exercise has been a huge success, with around 40 firefighters taking part from across the borough of Doncaster.

The newly introduced training has been put in place after the high rise flat fire in south London last year which killed six people and the Southampton flat fire where the lives of two firefighters were claimed.  By the time the exercise is completed in Doncaster around 150 firefighters will have completed the training.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, working with St Leger Homes of Doncaster – the organisation that manages around 21,000 homes for Doncaster Council - organised a series of training events at Shaftesbury House, a high-rise block of flats, in Intake, Doncaster.

One of the 11^th floor flats, recently vacated by the tenant, was used for the exercise which involved thick, but harmless, synthetic smoke being released into the property and a family of dummies being placed in the ‘home’.

Doncaster district manager, Tony Carlin, said: “Today has been an excellent opportunity to examine our equipment and procedures and to give firefighters a successful experience of high rise fire fighting.  We are looking forward to the remaining three exercises which will give that same experience to all firefighters in Doncaster district and more opportunities to refine our techniques and knowledge about these incidents.”

Mark Kenworthy, health and safety officer for St Leger Homes, said: “I would like to thank tenants who live in this block of flats for allowing us to help South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue plan this training here. The training is essential for firefighters. It means if we are unfortunate to have a fire here, or in any high-rise flats in the borough, the firefighters are now even more highly trained to deal with such an incident.”

Tenant, Jonathan Sims, also chairman of the Intake High Rise Tenants’ and Residents Associations, added:” It is very important that this training takes place. In the event of a real fire, everyone now knows what to do and how it will be dealt with. It’s a thumbs up from me for this exercise.”

Joint working between South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and St Leger Homes is becoming to be regarded as best practice and is being highlighted nationally. St Leger Homes also won South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s Business Partner Award in 2008.

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