Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has been able to train six new recruits, from Peterborough and Ely, at its new training centre in Huntingdon.

This is the first wholetime firefighter initial training course to be held at the centre, which was opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in November 2023.

The six new recruits were joined by their families at the centre, where they could watch them in their "passing out ceremony".

The group showed off their skills and techniques to their families and senior fire officers, which included demonstrating tackling a house fire with casualty rescue.

They also demonstrated a road traffic collision drill where two casualties were freed from their vehicles.

After the ceremony, the recruits got together with some of their instructors to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity.

They wore full firefighting PPE and breathing apparatus, and together walked the 12km Kinder Scout route of the Peak District, raising over £900. 

The Hunts Post: The recruits and their officers in the Peak District.The recruits and their officers in the Peak District. (Image: Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service)

The new recruits will now join their stations and start responding to emergencies:

Matt Hayden - Cambridge
Tyler Reed - Dogsthorpe
Marc Koteczky - Cambridge
Matt Bedford - Dogsthorpe
Tom Bartlett - Stanground
Kyran Yorke - Ely

Until the centre opened, wholetime firefighters had to attend other facilities around the country for their training.

The new training centre is now on Percy Road, and is fit with multi-level buildings, live fire burns, a road traffic collision compound, and facilities to replicate water filled ditches for rescue practice.

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