Emergency crews from across the UK are to be put to the test – dealing with a major flood of Bristol’s Cumberland Basin.
A national training exercise is being held in the city later this month to test emergency response plans.
The training is being carried out following the partial collapse of the dam at Toddbrook Reservoir in Whaley Bridge which saw 1500 people evacuated from their homes.
At its height, the operation was removing around 70,000 litres of water per minute from the reservoir to stabilise the dam.
The collapse of the dam wall was due to heavy rain in August.
The training exercise is being hosted by Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS) and will welcome 80 firefighters from across the country.
Three scenarios will be used based on a spring high tide and heavy rainfall – resulting in flooding across three areas including the Cumberland Basin.
Training will also be carried out at locations including the Dunball Sluice near Bridgwater and Oldbury Power Station.
The exercise will test the national resilience of high volume pumps, local emergency plans and how each fire service works with multi agency partners.
The training will involve up to 15 high volume pumps and two enhanced logistics support vehicles along with supporting team.
Staff from the Environment Agency will also be on hand.
The exercise will run between September 16 and 19 and each day will see a new function of the national resilience network tested as the scenarios unfold.
It will also involve SARAID, Community Resiliance Teams, and other organisations and voluntary agencies from across the south west.
Tony Smith, Nailsea fire station Watch Manager and Service lead for HVPs, said: "High volume pumps have enhanced the capabilities for fire and rescue services nationally, regionally and locally, mitigating the effects of flooding and fires at incidents across the UK.
"As incidents outside of firefighting continue to rise, this equipment improves the capabilities and safety of personnel, giving us the best resources to help us protect communities across the UK.
"This specialist national exercise will allow us to test the capabilities of the majority of high volume pumps from the across the UK to ensure we are ready for any situation that might arise."
Across England and Wales, HVPs are held by 42 Fire & Rescue Services (FRS) and there are 52 HVP sets in total.
These HVPs are available to support incidents within their own local fire and rescue service area but are also available to assist with national or major incidents such as natural or deliberate flooding and large-scale firefighting activities such as wildfires.
Since their first large deployment in 2005, they have been utilised nationally in 2007, 2009 and each year from 2012 to 2015.
These deployments have included wide-area flooding, coastal tidal surges and wildfire incidents.
Each vehicle has a submersible pump and one kilometre of hose and is capable of pumping up to 7,000 litres per minute and can deliver water over a distance of three kilometres.
HVP's can be connected together in the same hose line system meaning that water can be pumped over even further.
Ian Irving, the National Resilience High Volume Pump Capability Adviser said: "This large scale multi-agency exercise will allow us to test the mobilisation of half of the national fleet.
"This is a critical exercise that allows us to test our mobilisation procedures, logistics and pumping capabilities in a range of scenarios.
"The national exercise will provide assurance to Home Office that the HVP fleet is able to respond at a moment's notice to whatever large-scale incident or emergency they may be required to".
Throughout the exercise, Gordano Services will be used as a strategic holding area for all the vehicles, while Brunel Lock Road in Bristol will have parking restrictions and traffic management in place from 7pm until 7am on September 18 and 19.
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