Like most organisations, the Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Service’s training schedule, has been slowly returning to some form of normality, after being seriously disrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As soon as restrictions allowed, personnel were engaged in both local and overseas training events, resulting in a busy schedule of late:

Incident Command Course – ICL3

Station Officers Jason Mesilio and Adrian McComb completed the Advanced Tactical Incident Command course (ICL 3) at the Fire Service College (FSC) in Moreton-In-Marsh, Gloucestershire, UK

The course provides delegates with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding, to perform advanced tactical incident commander duties when managing larger and more serious incidents.

Tactical Ventilation Instructor Course

Also at The Fire Service College, Sub/Officer Jared Olivero and Leading Fire Fighter Martin Posso, together with colleagues from the Airport Fire and Rescue Service, attended Tactical Ventilation Instructor’s Course, 

This course encapsulated “modern” firefighting techniques, whereby fires and products of combustion are mechanically and/or naturally managed, in order to create less arduous environments for fire fighters and survivable conditions for trapped occupants.

H.M. Naval Base Exercise – H.M.S Dragon

Closer to home, personnel took part in an exercise on board H.M.S Dragon. Simulating a fire on board the vessel, GFRS personnel, assisted by the vessel’s crew, conducted “search and rescue” and firefighting operations. This provided an excellent opportunity to test various aspects of our response, including JESIP interoperability principles. 

A Time to Remember

A wreath was laid to commemorate the armistice and to honour The Fallen. Station Officer Jason Mesilio, proudly represented the GFRS at both events.

The Minister with responsibility for Fire and Rescue Services, the Hon Samantha Sacramento, also added “Training enables firefighters to learn new skills and techniques in order to make their jobs safer. Training days such as these keep firefighters active and engaged in this important field of work. It serves so many purposes that it is imperative for all firefighters to undertake as many courses and training events as possible to strengthen the capabilities of our Fire Service”. 

ENDS