North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service - Experts & Thought Leaders

First Direct Arena in Leeds played host to a major multi-agency exercise, when West Yorkshire’s emergency services came together to test their joint plans in responding to a major incident. live-action exercise West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), West Yorkshire Police, and Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) joined forces with Counter Terrorism Policing North East, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service for a live-action exercise, simulating a Marauding Terrorist Attack. The scenario, set in the city-center arena, took months of planning and was designed to test the emergency response of all agencies, both individually and working together, to ensure the region is as prepared as possible should an incident ever occur. train together, identify any gaps We regularly test our plans through exercises such as this to check what’s on paper would work" Sam Blackburn, National Resilience Support Officer at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said, “We regularly test our plans through exercises such as this to check what’s on paper would work in a real scenario." He adds, "These are great opportunities for all partners to train together, identify any gaps, and ensure our joint plans are as effective as possible in keeping the public safe.” practice skills Owen Hayward, Head of Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) and Special Operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said, “Multi-agency live training exercises always provide a safe environment for everyone to practice their skills and simulate partnership working at major incidents." He adds, "The opportunity for emergency service colleagues to come together in this way provides valuable learning that we can all take away and then refine our processes and approaches to the many challenging scenarios we may be faced with.” robust training exercise Over 300 students and staff from the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and Leeds Beckett University took part Sam Blackburn added, “We would like to thank First Direct Arena for providing the venue and working with us to deliver a robust training exercise, and also the hundreds of volunteers who gave up their time to make the exercise as realistic as possible.” Over 300 students and staff from the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and Leeds Beckett University took part in the exercise volunteering as concert-goers and casualties to add another level of realism to the scenario. assisting YAS HART REACT Disaster Response, the veterans-based charity, also supplied trained and experienced volunteers to act as specific casualties to assist the YAS Hazardous Awareness Response Team (HART) and WYFRS to exercise their responses realistically. Hannah Rossmorris, Senior lecturer in Events Management at the UK Centre for Event Management at Leeds Beckett University, said, “This exercise provided an exciting and valuable learning opportunity for our final year students taking the ‘Risk Management for Major Events’ module."  Making the exercise realistic It was an experience our students will never forget, and one I’m sure will benefit them immensely" Hannah Rossmorris adds, "We are immensely grateful to First Direct Arena for inviting us to take part, and to all the stakeholders involved who had worked so hard to make the exercise as realistic as possible." She continues, "It was an experience our students will never forget, and one I’m sure will benefit them immensely when they graduate and enter the workplace as events professionals.” debrief and evaluation of the exercise This was just one of several multi-agency training exercises which routinely take place throughout the region. It was not in response to any specific threat or intelligence regarding First Direct Arena or Leeds itself. While the exercise was underway there was no impact on front-line services, which continued as normal. All those involved in the exercise will carry out a full debrief and evaluation of the exercise to ensure any lessons are captured and incorporated into West Yorkshire’s major incident plans.

Firefighter brothers completed an incredible feat at the weekend when they climbed 69,000 steps to raise more than £3,000 for The Grenfell Foundation and The Firefighters Charity.  Mike and Kev Sutcliffe took on the challenge of climbing Bridgewater Place Tower in Leeds 72 times to symbolize each life lost at the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. Kev, 43, is a firefighter with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) while Mike, 41, is a Watch Manager with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS). help and support Kev Sutcliffe said, “We went up and down the steps for around nine hours on Saturday – it was hard work, but also an emotional day as we remembered those who had lost their lives in that horrific fire six years ago." He adds, “Money is still coming in, but we are set to have raised over £3,000 which will be split between the two charities. I’d like to thank everyone involved for all their help and support including both brigades, my watch, and Bridgewater Place for allowing us the use of the building.” endurance challenge We wanted to take on an endurance challenge with a difference, to raise money for two worthy charities" Mike Sutcliffe said, “We are both always on the lookout for the next physical challenge to undertake. We wanted to take on an endurance challenge with a difference, to raise money for two worthy charities, which we respect and have a connection with.” Kev added, “We are pleased with how it went on Saturday, and we hope we can do something similar again next year – which should give our legs time to recover as they are pretty sore after Saturday’s challenge.” Silver Axe Award The total of 69,000 steps climbed is the equivalent of 67 Big Bens or three-quarters of the way to the summit of Mount Everest. The brothers have two children each and have both served in the Royal Engineers before leaving to join the fire service. Both brothers received the ‘Silver Axe Award’ for finishing as the top recruit on their respective courses. awe-inspiring feat West Yorkshire’s Chief Fire Officer, John Roberts, said, “Congratulations to the brothers for completing this test of endurance in memory of those who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire – all the money raised is going to two very worthy charities.” North Yorkshire’s Chief Fire Officer, Jonathan Dyson, said, “This is an awe-inspiring feat that Mike and Kev have undertaken on behalf of two extremely important charities. Thank you both.”

Military veterans and firefighters Kev and Mike Sutcliffe are undertaking the challenge to raise funds for The Grenfell Foundation and The Firefighters Charity. Kev works for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) while his brother works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS). The duo will be conquering Bridgewater Place as they climb 24 stories 72 times. The 24 storeys symbolize the height of Grenfell Tower, and the 72 times symbolizes each life lost at the devastating tower fire in 2017. summit of Mount Everest We had planned the challenge three years ago but then it couldn’t go ahead because of the pandemic" They will be climbing over 69,000 steps-the equivalent of 67 Big Bens or 3/4 of the way to the summit of Mount Everest. The brothers aim to do this as a continuous relay on Saturday 17th June 2023, after the 6th anniversary of the Grenfell Tower Fire. Father of two Kev, 43, from Pontefract, said: “We had planned the challenge three years ago but then it couldn’t go ahead because of the pandemic. We tried to think of ways we could still do it – such as finding an outside location, but it just wasn’t possible. Then Mike asked me if I still fancied doing it, and I my first thought was ‘I’m three years older than when I first agreed to it – but go on, it’s for a good cause’. We both enjoy being active and have done Iron Man competitions and triathlons. This challenge will be a way for us to keep fit while raising money for good causes.” Silver Axe Award We wanted to take on an endurance challenge with a difference to raise money for two worthy charities" Mike, 41, from Doncaster who also has two children said: “We are both always on the lookout for the next physical challenge to undertake. We wanted to take on an endurance challenge with a difference to raise money for two worthy charities that we respect and have a connection with.” The brothers are both ex-military having served in the Royal Engineers. Since leaving the army the brothers both joined the fire service, in North and West Yorkshire both receiving the Silver Axe Award for finishing as the top recruit on their respective courses. Epic challenge for The Grenfell Foundation Howard Taylor from the Grenfell Foundation, one of the charities the brothers are supporting, said: “We are grateful to Mike and Kev for taking on this epic challenge for The Grenfell Foundation and The Firefighters Charity. It is essential for both affected communities and on-the-ground blue light service personnel to get the right support following any tragedy, and funds raised through this challenge will go a long way to supporting this in regards to Grenfell.” Leeds’ Bridgewater Place is not only an office and residential skyscraper but holds the record for Yorkshire’s tallest building. John Roberts, Chief Fire Officer at WYFRS, said: “Kev and Mike are undertaking a grueling challenge for two amazing and very worthy charities that are close to the heart of all firefighters. I'd urge everyone to get behind them and support them in their fundraising. I am sure they'll smash it!”