CREDITON firefighters held a simulated property fire, which involved the rescue of three adults and a child, from a smoke-filled private dwelling in Church Street, Crediton, on Tuesday evening (October 10).

Christine Bennetts volunteered her services to act the part of the person who called the fire crews to attend the house fire, which, she said, started as a chip pan fire.

She explained to the incident commander, Dan Conibere, that there were people trapped inside.

The firefighters used sets of breathing apparatus to search the smoke-filled property, kindly loaned by Dorothy Venn and also by kind permission of Bill Crean.

The training exercise had been arranged by Crediton crew manager Sean Cooke, who said he was pleased that crew members had a chance to simulate a rescue and test their breathing apparatus procedures.

“It is very rare that we are able to practice in a private dwelling,” he said.

Steve Purchall, Local Risk Manager for the Crediton Area with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am here to observe the station which is under the supervision of station manager Mark Smith.

“Crews worked extremely well during the breathing apparatus drill.

“There was good teamwork to rescue the four casualties, extinguish the fire and ventilate the property.

“It really was a good practice and will help with skill levels.”

Alan Quick