Fire crews dive into life-saving training at HR Wallingford
Firefighters from Royal Berkshire and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have been honing their life-saving skills in our state-of-the-art indoor water rescue facility, preparing for the increasing threat of flooding across the UK.
The training, held in one of the world’s most advanced hydrodynamic research centres, offers emergency responders a safe and controlled environment to simulate real-life flood rescue scenarios. The 30-by-23 metre indoor basin can replicate everything from fast-flowing water, to submerged vehicles, allowing crews to practice critical techniques without the unpredictability of natural rivers.
Crews from both counties took part in intensive sessions designed to meet national flood rescue standards set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). These included modules on flood awareness, first response, and advanced rescue techniques.
Our facility’s indoor setting means training can continue regardless of weather conditions, and its clean, controlled waters offer a safer alternative to polluted or hazardous natural sites. Beyond the water, the site also includes classrooms for theory sessions and dedicated space for emergency vehicles.
Whilst we don’t deliver the training ourselves, we partner with certified instructors to deliver realistic, scenario-based training that prepares crews for the challenges they’ll face in the field. Over 200 recruits can be trained in just six weeks, making it a key asset in the UK’s emergency preparedness strategy.
As the region braces for wetter seasons ahead, the collaboration between HR Wallingford and local fire services ensures that when the waters rise, responders are ready.
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