Tower block explosion is a fake
Feb 9 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
West Yorkshire Fire Service simulates bomb aftermath at Birkenshaw to train rescue crews
A MAJOR disaster hit West Yorkshire at the weekend.
But there was no need for residents to worry – the carnage was not for real.
It was all part of a large-scale training exercise at West Yorkshire Fire Service’s headquarters at Oakroyd Lane, Birkenshaw.
The exercise, named Double Whammy, began at 7am on Saturday and lasted for 32 hours.
It was designed to simulate the aftermath of an explosion at a block of flats.
But no bombs were set off – organisers had spent several weeks carefully burying a car under rubble and collapsing part of a building.
Firefighters, paramedics and search dog handlers taking part in the exercise had no idea what would confront them when they arrived on site.
On arrival, they were told there were casualties – both live volunteers and dummies – trapped inside the car and building.
Around 70 people took part in the exercise, including West Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedics and firefighters from Tyne and Wear, Lincolnshire and the West Midlands.
In a real situation, there would also have been around 15 fire engine crews on site, making a total of around 200 people.
The rescuers formed 10 urban search and rescue teams to respond to the exercise challenge.
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