The Ross Gazette joined local fire crews on Thursday evening, August 15th, as they prepared for a LRIP (local risk implementation process). This is where a crew will arrange a exercise at a local risk site to identify any dangers of the location.

Each station holds one each year and last week it was the turn of Whitchurch crews, who invited Ross and Malvern Firemen to their exercise on Symonds Yat Rock.

The objective is to select a risk area, such as Symonds Yat, and familiarise other crews with the area. And also to develop their knowledge of their specialist equipment. Rope teams, an eight wheel arga cat sprinter, thermal imaging camera, trauma kit, you name it they had it, as the crews set out to rescue a 'patient' from the cliff face.

As light faded, the teams successfully located the 'patient', aka one of the crew, and lifted him to safety.