Students face fears as firefighters for a day!

The St George’s CE School pupils learned how to tackle fires, cut up cars in mock rescues and search a smoke-filled building during the intensive day-long course.

The Year Nine pupils, part of the school’s Fire Cadet Unit, visited Lancashire Fire and Rescue’s training centre to learn from experienced fire fighters for the day.

The children faced their fears and earned a new found respect for firefighters as they tackled fire balls and entered smoke logged rooms, just as emergency staff do to save lives.

Chloe Oldham, 14, said: “I respect firemen a lot now, because if they weren’t there then we wouldn’t have anyone to help us.”

Wearing full fire safety gear the children performed their own heroic feats.

Chloe added: “Putting out the fires was the best bit, the flames were big.

“I was scared to go in the smoke filled rooms at first but I pushed through it, I thought about saving people to get through it.”

Classmate Daniel Barber, 14, said: “It was really fun. It was all safe and they told us what to do.

“What firefighters do is really good.

“I quite like scary things but when I saw the big fire ball I did take a step back.

“When it was scary you just had to push through it and imagine there’s people need saving.

“The smoke-filled house was really good, there were parts where you couldn’t see a thing.”

Each of the pupils who took part is working towards a BTEC qualification in community fire safety, taking part in weekly classes at South Shore Fire Station, St Annes Road, learning about drills, hose running and how to use breathing apparatus.

Chloe added: “I was really eager to get involved because it sounded like fun.

“At first I was nervous about some activities because I didn’t know what to expect but it’s been really fun learning.”

Their visit to the training centre also saw children watch controlled demonstrations of how quickly a fire can take hold and why you should never throw water on a chip pan fire.

Teacher Tina Milner, director for school community and careers, said: “Under the watchful instruction of experienced fire-fighters the intrepid group built on the skills they have been developing

“It was certainly a day to remember.”