The Airport Fire and Rescue Service has had a busy period of training and development, including new recruits, instructor qualifications and international courses.

A statement from the Government follows below:

It has been a particularly busy period of training and upskilling at AFRS during the recent months.

New Firefighter Recruits 

Two new recruits have recently joined the ranks of AFRS. Firefighters Jayan Brennan and Matthew Corbacho returned from the Fire Service College after completing five weeks of basic firefighter training, followed by a further five weeks of local, service-specific instruction and practical training. Their course covered core firefighting skills through classroom learning and realistic practical scenarios, progressively building the knowledge and experience required to qualify as firefighters. This included spending a week training at Gatwick Airport. At the College Passing Out Ceremony, Firefighter Matthew Corbacho was voted by his fellow recruits to receive the ‘Recruits’ Recruit Award’. He was also presented with the prestigious ‘Silver Axe Award’ by the instructors in recognition of being the best overall recruit. Both awards were accepted with humility and great pride. The two firefighters have now joined their respective operational Watches and will continue their development through an 18-month training programme. 

IREC 4 

Two AFRS firefighters have recently qualified as IREC (Incident Response and Emergency Care) Level 4 Instructors. Sub Officer Mitchel Mifsud and Leading Firefighter Daniel Cornelio successfully completed the required practical and theoretical assessments to achieve this qualification. Their certification enables them to train and assess AFRS personnel undertaking the IREC Level 3 programme. Working alongside the Gibraltar Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance personnel, all three organisations will deliver a shared curriculum to a common qualification standard. 

REMO 

To further enhance their capabilities as medical first responders, five AFRS firefighters attended a Rescue and Emergency Medical Operations (REMO) course delivered by Outreach Rescue in Bangor, North Wales. Set within Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, the facility combines challenging natural terrain with purpose-built rescue training environments. The course exposed participants to realistic medical emergency rescue scenarios in hazardous settings, testing and developing various operational skills. Exercises included locating, treating and evacuating casualties from remote mountain locations, confined spaces and other complex environments with restricted access, involving a range of injuries and medical conditions. Undertaken by Sub Officer Mitchel Mifsud, Leading Firefighter Daniel Cornelio and Firefighters Eric Casciaro, John Paul Llanelo and Ernest De Torres, the knowledge gained from this experience was of tremendous value to the group. 

Working at Height Revalidation

Also, with instructors from Outreach Rescue a group of six AFRS firefighters recently completed a 10-day course delivered locally to revalidate and enhance their Working at Height Instructor qualifications. The programme recertified existing instructors while also qualifying new personnel to deliver training. The course covered the essential safety principles, equipment, techniques and practical skills required for safe working at height. Leading Firefighters Daniel Cornelio and Julian Lopez, together with Firefighters Alain Pons, Aidon Asquez, Ernest De Torres and Jamie Robba, have all now achieved instructor status, valid for three years. 

AFRS Health, Safety and Environmental Responsibilities 

Sub Officer Shane Macdonald and Leading Firefighter Jonathan Falero recently attended the annual Health & Safety Event in Birmingham. The event brings together health and safety professionals, industry experts, regulators and solution providers to share best practice, explore emerging safety technologies, discuss regulatory developments and promote safer, healthier and more compliant workplaces. In addition, both officers successfully completed an ISEP-certified Internal Environmental Management System (EMS) Auditor Course, focused on conducting internal audits against the ISO 14001:2015 standard. The course covered audit planning and reporting, environmental risk assessment, corrective action management, continual improvement processes, environmental impacts, resource and energy use, waste management and environmental legislation. The knowledge and qualifications gained through this professional development programme will further strengthen their ability to support the AFRS in overseeing health, safety and environmental matters, while helping meet the requirements of AFRS Health, Safety and Environmental policies. 

Fire Investigation and Fire Safety Level 2 

Leading Firefighters Jonathan Falero and Daniel Cornelio completed a Fire Investigation course at the Fire Service College earlier this year. The course covered fire science, combustion, fire debris toxicology, causes of fire and signs of arson. In May they joined ten other AFRS firefighters in completing an online Fire Safety Level 2 course also with the Fire Service College. Together these qualifications broaden the knowledge and perspective of Leading Firefighters and those aspiring to the role, forming an integral part of their career progression pathway. The knowledge gained will enhance their ability to carry out dynamic operational risk assessments and will greatly improve their situational awareness across a wide range of environments. 

Interschutz 

Earlier this month, four AFRS senior officers attended the Interschutz 2026 Fire Industry Exhibition in Hanover, Germany. Held every five years, it is Europe's largest fire and rescue trade fair, providing an invaluable opportunity to explore the latest equipment, technologies and industry developments. The event also offers great networking opportunities with manufacturers, suppliers and fire service representatives from around the world. With over 1,700 exhibitors and 140,000 visitors from 144 countries, Interschutz remains a key forum for advancing fire and rescue capabilities and enhancing organisational and community resilience. 

The Minister with responsibility for the AFRS, the Hon Leslie Bruzon, commented: “These activities reflect our commitment to support the Airport Fire and Rescue Service as a modern, professional and highly capable emergency service. By proactively investing in the continual training and development of our personnel, we strengthen our ability to protect lives, property and the environment. Ensuring officers have the skills and knowledge to meet current and future challenges is paramount, and their efforts play a vital role in maintaining the highest standards of safety and emergency preparedness at Gibraltar International Airport and within our community.”