VACANT council houses in Dingwall set for demolition in June are being used as settings for vital fire and rescue training exercises.
The 12 properties at Meiklefield Road are being demolished to make way for 14 new flats and houses, as part of the wider Meiklefield area regeneration.
Prior to the demolition work, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for Dingwall has been hosting a series of training scenario events in the properties for retrained crews. Highland Council officials have been present at the already held events, in a bid to obtain front-line information which can be applied to the design of future council house builds.
Councillor Angela MacLean said, “It was good to see the properties be of use to the community one last time by allowing Scottish Fire and Rescue Service colleagues to train in a realistic environment to everyone’s benefit.”
Derek Wilson, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, local senior officer for Highlands, added, “This type of training, using different search and rescue scenarios within derelict buildings, is essential in helping our staff prepare for actual events within our communities. The exercise at Dingwall was of great value in maintaining and developing firefighting skills and we are grateful to have been given the opportunity.”
