Local firefighters honed their skills at a special weekend training exercise in Wellington designed to practise working safely at heights.
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Crews from Wellington undertook the training on Saturday and officers from Delroy Fire Station had their turn Sunday.
Western region zone commander Adam Dewberry said the training would come in handy when firefighters had to access roofs or help State Emergency Service (SES) crews in the wake of a major storm.
The training also involved enhancing risk assessment skills, Superintendent Dewberry said.
"It was very challenging training involving rescue lines, friction devices, self-arresters and all of the safety items that allow them to scale a building and work on a roof without falling off," he said.
Superintendent Dewberry said local firefighters might also be called on to use the skills in other locations.
"For instance, after the big floods in Sydney in 1999 firefighters from across the state were called on to help out," he said.
He said the training involved a theory and then a practical scenario component.
"It will now become part of their regular training program."
