NPT Homes Provide Fire Service with Unique Training Opportunity

NPT Homes has joined forces with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service to provide them with an unique training environment at the disused Cartref residential complex in Skewen.

The complex on Burrows Road in Skewen was built in 1967 but was vacated earlier this year when it was deemed unfeasible to bring it up to modern standards. With the flats due to be demolished later this year, NPT Homes have allowed the fire service to use the building for training purposes.

Crews from all over Neath Port Talbot descended on the complex last week for a major training exercise aimed to simulate a fire in a residential home. The exercise saw firefighters search a substantial amount of rooms and areas wearing full breathing apparatus in order to make the situation as realistic as possible. It also gave the firefighters the opportunity to practice some new search and rescue techniques being introduced nationally.

This large-scale exercise follows on from a number of smaller training programmes held at Cartref over the summer.

Simon Pearson, Operational Response Manager at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said:

“We offer our thanks to NPT Homes who have allowed us to use Cartref and also to nearby residents for any inconvenience we may have caused. Feedback from the crews on the training exercise was positive and this opportunity will ensure firefighters throughout Neath Port Talbot are fully prepared to tackle incidents in all types of premises throughout our area’.

Steve Tucker, Director of Assets at NPT Homes said:

“With Cartref currently lying empty and awaiting demolition, we were only too pleased to be able to accommodate Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service for this training exercise. It’s encouraging to hear that the crews thought that the venue made an ideal training location and have benefitted from the exercises carried out there.”