Biggar firefighters to stage crash exercise

The team of professional firefighters, who all live and work in the local community, will be tasked with releasing an ‘injured casualty’ from the damaged vehicle.

The drama will see them work together as a team to devise a swift and appropriate rescue plan.

The public can then watch as one of the firefighters sits with the casualty to reassure them as colleagues use hydraulic cutting equipment to take the roof off the vehicle.

The ‘casualty’ will then be placed onto a rescue board and lifted clear of the car.

Firefighters are staging the event to remind the community of road safety awareness.

They will be available afterwards to speak to anyone who wants to know even more about how to stay safe behind the wheel.

Firefighters will also be able to chat about free Home Fire Safety Visits where they will visit homes, check or install smoke detectors and offer advice on what to do in the event of an emergency.

Children will even get a chance to see the equipment on the local Fire Engine.

Retained firefighters live and work in the community and are available at a moment’s notice to assist in the event of an emergency.

This career offers people the chance to learn new skills and broaden horizons, and anyone interested in joining can also speak to the firefighters.

Davie Murdoch, who is SFRS Station Manager for Biggar, said: “There is no doubt that the crew at Biggar serve at the very heart of their community and they are a credit to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“This demonstration will show that they have the skills to protect their community when required. We hope it will also serve as a reminder of the importance of driving safely on our roads.

“We look forward to meeting with everyone to chat about our work and also our Home Fire Safety Visits. We are also eager to hear from anyone who is interested in becoming a retained firefighter.”