Three Undergraduate students have undertaken placements with the City Fire Brigade (Operations and Fire Safety Departments) under the Student Summer Placement Scheme, from 1 July to the 30 August.

The students Aaron Aguilera, Stefan Robba and Ivan Riddell, are all currently studying at the University of Wolverhampton, undertaking a BSc (Hons) Fire and Rescue Degree Programme.

Aaron Aguilera and Ivan Riddell have completed their first year and Stefan Robba his second year. This was the second placement for Stefan Robba who was also with the Brigade during the summer of 2012.

During their placement the three students covered a significant number of training modules including;

•       Breathing Apparatus (Theory & Practical)

•      Ladders (Theory & Practical)

•       Road Traffic Collision (RTC) equipment familiarisation and maintenance

•       Ship Firefighting (Theory & Practical)

•       Pumps and Primers (Theory & Practical)

•      Water Relays practical

•       Hose Management

•       General Station Routine maintenance tasks

•       Risk Visits to specific sites in Gibraltar

As part of the degree course students have to take part in and successfully complete an operational fire fighter training module to continue into year two and three respectively. Wolverhampton University students including Aaron Aguilera, Stefan Robba and Chris Riddell are currently in week three of this four week element at the West Midlands Fire Service Academy in Birmingham. When they have completed this module the students will have a basic knowledge of fire fighter operational duties.

These duties will continue until they complete the degree when their hope is to become full time operational fire fighters. Students who are UK residents will continue throughout the summer to maintain a close relationship with their local fire brigades a relationship which will also include practical training and community volunteering. This activity will continue into the new semester and for the remainder of their degree course.