Emergency services complete major training exercise at Chichester Cathedral

Huge crowds gathered to watch firefighters, paramedics and police officers complete a training exercise throughout Chichester city centre which tested emergency procedures in the event of a major fire.

The mock incident, code named Operation 950, saw fire crews from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service rescue one person stuck inside the building with synthetic smoke billowing from the roof of Chichester Cathedral.

While the operational response was underway, a separate Strategic Co-ordinating Group (SCG) took place at nearby County Hall with representatives from each of the emergency services, West Sussex County Council’s Resilience and Emergencies Team, Highways, Chichester District Council, the Environment Agency and NHS.

SCGs form part of JESIP’s (Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles) programme of work to improve and streamline multi-agency responses during significant incidents. Those in the meeting jointly agreed the policy, strategy and overall response framework for the incident being simulated at the cathedral.

WSFRS Station Manager at Chichester Fire Station and Event Director, Anton Mezzone said, “We have been working hard to adapt our emergency response plans for a fire at Chichester Cathedral, after reviewing the learning points from the Notre-Dame fire in 2019.

“This exercise was an opportunity for us to put our new and improved plans to the test. I’m pleased to say that the operation was a huge success, and everything ran smoothly.

“There is so much that goes on behind the scenes during a major fire – it’s not just about firefighters on the ground; we constantly communicate with the water companies to check the water pressure is sufficient, we liaise with the media to help share safety messages and we work with the local communities to keep them safe and minimise disruption, so all of these elements were assessed too.”

The exercise also tested the viability of using the water supply from Chichester Canal, half a mile away, to reach the Cathedral. This was successfully achieved using the High Volume Pump, a national asset based at Bognor Regis Fire Station, despite having to navigate the water supply along one of the busiest streets in the city and over the bridge at a railway crossing.

Due to the scale of the exercise, several roads were closed throughout the city centre.

Station Manager Mezzone added, “I am absolutely delighted to have seen so many people come along to watch the exercise unfold. There was a huge sense of community spirit, and even young children who came along dressed as firefighters which was amazing to see.”

A spokesperson at Chichester Cathedral added, “We are grateful to all of those involved in the planning and delivery, including the team at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. Next year marks 950 years of our Cathedral, and this exercise offered a valuable opportunity to trial emergency plans and procedures, ensuring the protection of our Cathedral for years to come.”

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