Grampian Fire and Rescue Service has recently begun work on a brand new state-of-the-art training real fire training facility at its Portlethen Development Centre.

The ground preparations have just begun with the next phase of the build due to commence on Monday 1 March.

The new training facility, which is costing approximately £350,000, is set to replace the current real fire training suite that is nearing the end of its lifespan.  The new facility will provide excellent opportunities, not just for the firefighters of Grampian but for other Services across the country as well.

Station Manager for the Development Centre, John Morgan, said, “Other fire services have previously travelled to Grampian to use the current facility for one-off training days.”

Of the new training facility Station Manager Morgan said, “We need to improve the current facilities to ensure the safety and competence of the centre is maintained for the firefighters.

“the new facility will consist of a three-storey training structure which will allow us to train in fire behaviours including flashover and back-draft scenarios and enable firefighters to train for search and rescue in heat and smoke.”

He continued, “We are one of the very few fortunate services in Scotland who have the ability to train in the most realistic conditions possible.”