Hazard house plan for fire service training

The house simulations would be built on the current training site

Plans for an "all hazards village" to help train firefighters to respond to different types of emergencies have been submitted.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) wants to build two structures at its Barmston Mere Fire Training Centre in Washington.

These would simulate a range of house types, including a two-storey detached house and two semi-detached.

The service said the "essential development" would ensure firefighters had the "necessary, suitable and relevant training facilities to build and maintain competence to respond to emergencies of every type".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said planning documents submitted to Sunderland Council showed the types of training spaces across the semi-detached part of the training facility included a living room/shop area, basement/garage space, kitchen and dining facilities, bedrooms and bathrooms.

A TWFRS spokesperson said: "The plans we have submitted for approval are part of an ongoing long-term plan to ensure that firefighters have the necessary, suitable and relevant training facilities to build and maintain competence to respond to emergencies of every type, not just now but in the future too.

"We will fund this from savings and underspends in previous years as it is an essential development to ensure safety for firefighters and of course the public that we serve."