BIG TESTS FOR RESCUE SKILLS.

Byline: BARRY GIBSON ,

dramatic: The sort of horrific situations facing firefighters

Firefighters getting ready for contest

FIREFIGHTERS from this area are ready to test their skills in a national competition.

They will be taking part in the national final of the UK Extrication Championships after triumphing in the Yorkshire round of the competition last month.

Mick Brennan, Chris Atkinson, Tommy Burgess, Tony Pearson, John Wilkinson and Nick Overton - all based at Fire Service headquarters in Birkenshaw - and Alan Widdowson, from Featherstone fire station, will compete against 50 teams.

The two-day challenge kicks off at Cardiff International Arena on July 13, when the firefighters compete in a 20-minute contest getting people out of vehicles.

The top 20 teams will go through to tackle a more complex scenario the next day. This will involve two casualties, one pretending to be trapped and the other critically injured.

Teams will be judged on the command and control displayed by the officer in charge, the medical skills used by those in the vehicle with the casualties and the way in which space is created to get the casualties safely out of the vehicle.

Watch Manager Brennan said: "Events like this enable us to share knowledge and expertise, so we can improve the already high level of service we provide."

The team is being supported by ICET, Volvo Crossroads Truck and Bus at Birstall, Lee's Autos, of Bradford, and Winteringham Haulage, from Birstall.