Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has joined forces with Transport for NSW to recreate a railway station and tracks as a new practice to help firefighters hone their emergency response skills on
Welcoming the collaboration and equipment, Minister for Transport, David Elliott said the FRNSW firefighters had been given access to world-class practice props, designed to simulate a range of real-life emergency scenarios, from house fires to flood rescue and even derailments.
“Providing real props for training is vital in ensuring first responders are able to experience challenges they might confront when dealing with real emergencies,” Mr Elliott said.
“Transport for NSW has worked with Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) to a recreate a station and a 115-metre section of track so that first responders can fine-tune their response to rail accidents and rescues, mass-casualty and medical incidents, and chemical attacks,” he said.
“The training props, which include a train carriage, railway station and level crossing, are critical training resources which will be used by other NSW emergency services and first responders as well the Australian Defence Force, Endeavour Energy, the Fire Protection Association and interstate emergency service counterparts.”
Minister for Emergency Services, Steph Cooke said the specially sourced and custom-built assets at FRNSW’s Emergency Services Academy in Western Sydney would give firefighters the edge.
“These life-like props bring our firefighters as close to real situations as possible in a controlled environment, helping them build the confidence, skills and understanding to respond when an emergency strikes,” Ms Cooke said.
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said the expanded Emergency Services Academy training environment would improve the abilities of firefighters and those they worked alongside.
Commissioner Baxter said the new additions to the Academy also included a single-storey four-bedroom house fitted with fake flames, smoke machines and hazards; a heat management system installed in an existing training tower; pumping and draughting props; and electrical safety props.
