Fire brigade spends £3,000 on training in US

12:10pm Monday 21st July 2008

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ESSEX Fire Service spent about £3,000 sending two senior officers on a training course to Texas.

But the service said the course was recognised as one of the best in the world and worked out cheaper than the UK-equivalent, which costs £2,000 per person.

David Johnson, chief fire officer, who went on the week-long trip, said the places were offered to the service for free and the total cost of the trip included economy flights and food.

Mr Johnson said: “There is not an equivalent course in England but the closest, a gold command course at the Fire Services College, in Gloucestershire, would have cost in excess of £4,000 for two delegates.”

He added the visit was part of the fire service’s attempts to bolster its ability to deal with major incidents, particularly terroists attacks and preparing for the 2012 London Olympics.

He said: “The Olympics as an event will require a lot of contingency planning. We are looking to enhance our strategic command at all major incidents.”

The Gloucestershire course is intended to offer training so the different emergency services can learn how to jointly deal with major incidents. It tests lines of communication and helps them understand each other’s roles.

Ann Holland, vice chairman of Essex Fire Authority, said: “It is worthwhile to make sure our firefighters have the top skills for firefighting.”