FIREFIGHTERS are being put through their paces in hot house conditions in new state-of-the-art facilities at a brigade's training base.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade is now able to provide realistic blaze-like conditions for its operational training, but with built- in safety fall-backs to prevent injury.

The new two-storey multi-purpose training building has come into use at brigade headquarters at Framwellgate Moor, Durham.

It was officially declared open by Coun Len O'Donnell, chairman of the combined County Durham and Darlington Fire Authority, this week.

He was joined by youngsters from nearby St Godric's RC Primary School to watch the new training facility being tried out by firefighters.

A number of safe viewing areas are provided to enable the public and instructors to watch training activity.

Coun O'Donnell said it was only the second such facility in the country, designed to provide the best possible operational training to give Durham's firefighters the 'vital skills' needed to deal with dangerous compartment fires.

Firefighters are able to practise search and rescue techniques, gaining access in a confined space and ladder pitching, while using a wide range of specialist equipment.

Station officer Alan Wray said the new building allows the brigade to use cosmetic 'environmentally-friendly' smoke in controlled surroundings.

Fail-mechanisms ensure an automatic shutdown should temperatures grow too high, while censors and video cameras allow observers to chart the position of anyone in the training building