Brecqhou helicopter in training exercise

THE Herm fire team was recently part of an elaborate training exercise which involved Civil Protection volunteers, a fictional fighter plane and the Brecqhou helicopter.

It was arranged by the Guernsey Police and was to test and train Guernsey's Civil Protection volunteers 'in an exercise that will require them to use their equipment and skills in an area that is unfamiliar to them in a scenario that, albeit unlikely, is still possible'.

The scenario was that an experimental RAF fighter plane had flown over Herm and – while passing Home Field near the Seagull campsite – part of the craft had fallen off and landed in the field. An RAF helicopter would be arriving in the night to collect the 'top secret' item and would need assistance from the Guernsey and Herm volunteers.

The Herm team met the police personnel off the Brecqhou Warrior with tractors and trailers to move the people and equipment to the rendezvous point at Ben's Seat.

Generators were set up and lights used to illuminate the scene and the classified object. The volunteers set up a cordon to keep the public away from the 'dangerous' item.

The highlight of the mission was the landing of the RAF aircraft – represented by the Brecqhou helicopter, generously loaned for the evening. These things don't happen very often in Herm, so it caused a lot of excitement.

The evening 'to test the command and control structure of the volunteers along with the ground staff in carrying out these tasks' was very successful and went smoothly. It is good to know the emergency services can function well in any situation, however unlikely.

Herm fire chief and island director Simon George was more than happy with the way the exercise went.

'It was a change from our usual firefighting drills and really enjoyable,' he said.

'I'd like to thank Mat Du Port of the Guernsey Police for his efforts in organising it, as well as Brecqhou and Civil Protection for coming over and taking part.

'It was really impressive that sections from all three islands can work together so well.'