Ground cut for new fire training facility

Project to provide on-Island training

A new training facility for the Island's firefighters will ensure crews keep their skills up to date on home turf.

Work began this week on a new live fire training base, near the Energy from Waste plant outside Douglas.

Until now, training's only been available off-Island, leaving the Manx fire and rescue service short of up to nine officers for two-day periods, while they attend courses.

The new facility, costing more than half a million pounds, includes a series of interconnected compartments, which will be used to simulate emergencies in different types of buildings and vessels.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer John Murtagh says it will offer scope for more frequent and extended training: