Bendigo firefighters have climbed silos and “rescued” people from cliff faces this week, as they undertake a high-angle rescue course.
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Ten career firies from the integrated station spent four days building their roping skills, with five Country Fire Authority instructors lending a hand from across the state.
Days one and two were held at the Bendigo fire station; day three at Dog Rocks at Mount Alexander with wilderness training; and the fourth and final day at the Ridley site in Charleston Road.
CFA instructor Peter Brown said the training allowed crew members to practise rescuing people from a variety of locations, like cliff faces at Mount Alexander or the silos at the industrial site.
“[Ridley] could be a potential real site as it’s used all the time. The best thing about training in your own backyard is they already have local knowledge. They are prepared mentally for what they need to do,” he said.
“Ridley has been really happy to let us come here – it is a fantastic site for us. It’s very hard to find somewhere you can get out of the way and don’t interfere with people.”
![The view from the Ridley silos. Picture: ASHLEY FRITSCH The view from the Ridley silos. Picture: ASHLEY FRITSCH](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/WVXbUp8wXAYTAf74QbhPRe/b2b362f0-b22e-4eec-a241-745196ac2cff.JPG/r0_0_3264_2448_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
This is the first time the CFA has held training exercises at Ridley, but site manager Paul Mason said he was eager for it to continue.
“We try to work with the community as best as we can,” he said, adding that he hoped it would be an annual exercise.
“We’re keen at every opportunity to work with the CFA and make sure they get what they need.”