Marketwire

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Palestinian firefighters are spending a week training at two fire services in the north west of England. The eight firefighters, from Nablus, arrive in the north west tomorrow (14 November) and will undergo training in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

The training will focus on fire investigation work and 'train the trainer' techniques so they can pass on skills when they return to Nablus. The training will take place at Bolton fire station in Greater Manchester and Washington Hall fire service training centre in Lancashire.

FBU Regional Secretary Kevin Brown said: "We're delighted to welcome these firefighters to the north west of England for their final week of training. The Nablus firefighters work with limited equipment and training and we want to help them get the best use out of what they have.

"Firefighters across the world are drawn to our profession by the desire to help people and save lives. The aim is for training in the north west of England to help firefighters save lives in Palestine."

All eight have just finished an intensive three-week training course in Scotland that included learning the latest firefighting techniques, search and rescue and dealing with collapsed buildings.That training was co-ordinated by the Fire Brigades Union, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Fire Service College at Gullane.

The project was initiated following visits from Scottish, north west and south west firefighters to Palestine earlier this year. Nablus Fire Department employs 72 Firefighters At three Fire Stations in Nablus which has a population of approximately 300,000 people (this includes 4 Refugees Camps and approximately 50,000 people in 25 villages surrounding the city). Nablus Fire Department also provides support for neighbouring cities, towns & villages at large incidents, when required.

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Fire Brigades Union

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November 13, 2009