Mock gas explosion

The emergency services were scrambled to a mock major gas explosion on Tuesday night.

The exercise tested how the blue light services and local hospital would cope if a real blast should ever occur at the Stornoway gas works. In the middle of the chaos fire crews rescued a “trapped” driver from a mangled vehicle.

Around 60 personnel from 12 agencies took part in the two-hour drill on Tuesday evening. It took six months to plan.

Exercise Director, Andy MacDonald, Risk & Emergency Planning Manager at the Comhairle said: “A multi-agency planning team was established earlier in the year under the auspices of the Western Isles Emergency Planning Coordinating Group (WIEPCG).

“A decision was taken to deliver a controlled “Live” Exercise at the SGN LPG Plant, Stornoway in 2011 involving all the Emergency Services and key local Resilience partners.

“The aim is to test our statutory plans, validate key concepts within the plans and test our multi agency response, capabilities and communications.”

Mock gas explosion tests emergency response 31/8/11