FIREFIGHTERS from across Pembrokeshire in an exercise designed to test the crews’ capabilities of dealing with fires at St Davids Cathedral.

Named Exercise Holy Smoke, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service training exercise simulated a fire in the clock room of the main tower with casualties trapped within the sacred building.

Exercise Holy Smoke was attended by on-call firefighters from St Davids, Haverfordwest, Pembroke Dock, Narberth, Crymych and Carmarthen.

Through the use of the unmanned aerial vehicle drone, the Urban Search and Rescue Team was able to identify the location of two casualties, located on the roof of the cathedral chapel and nave.

They were rescued by firefighters who had entered the tower, wearing full personal protective equipment and breathing apparatus.

Watch Manager Jack Dudley said: “I would like to thank all 35 firefighters for their hard work and commitment. Most of the crew members that were present at the exercise are on-call firefighters and gave up their Saturday to maintain and further enhance the Fire and Rescue Service’s capability to protect our communities.

“Those firefighters who were involved in the rescue of the casualties from the clock tower displayed outstanding commitment and professionalism as this was a very arduous and exhausting task due to the confined space within the tower.

“I would also like to thank the Dean and Chapter of the St Davids Cathedral for allowing the Fire and Rescue Service to use the cathedral for this purpose and also to St Davids RFC for laying on a lovely meal for our hungry firefighters.”