Fire Officers Impressed

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For any fire officer, walking into the newly built Airport Fire Station today could have been akin to nirvana.

Stretched out on display were several pieces of machinery that could turn any fire station into a state-of-the-art, perfectly equipped facility, capable of both fighting fires and the increasingly important search and rescue element.

The display and accompanying demonstration of equipment from UK-based company Angloco Ltd, was facilitated by the Barbados Fire Service, which has a relationship with the company dating back close to 20 years.

Fire chief Wilfred Marshall remarked that the display was indeed impressive and the local service was already looking at pieces to add to its own armory.

"There is always a special thrill that flows through the veins of all firefighters when they come into contact with new or improved equipment. There is always that voice in your head saying, 'I would like to add that piece of equipment to my armory'," he said.

But it wasn't a demo for local fire officials alone, for regional counterparts from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines were on hand to witness and get the chance to handle the equipment.

Product manager Geoff Howard went through a detailed explanation of each piece of equipment, which ranged from safety head gear, to nozzles, cutting, spreading and stabilisation tools, hydrolic lifting equipment, ladders, high powered saws that can cut through concrete and other structures and search and listening equipment.

After the outline of the new pieces and upgrades to existing equipment, fire officers were taken into the field to observe and in some respects practice their skills and the efficiency of the equipment on display.

They witnessed firsthand as the Angloco team simulated rescues using the cutting and spreading tools and also demonstrated the performance of a new water tanker purchased by the local fire service. (LB)

Source: news.barbadostoday.bb

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