AN old school building will be used for a fire service training exercise this week.

Birtenshaw bosses will be handing over their old building to test the skills of firefighters.

The scenario, planned for Thursday will involve firefighters entering the smoke-filled building wearing breathing equipment.

Birtenshaw’s old school in Darwen Road, with dozens of small rooms and long corridors, is described as being the perfect venue.

Station manager Wayne Guffogg said: “A building that’s a bit like a rabbit warren with lots of small rooms is an ideal challenge.

“We have to follow a set pattern to retrace our steps to get out of the building and also keep track of all the rooms we’ve checked.”

Birtenshaw moved out of the old building in Bromley Cross into a nearby multi-million pound purpose-built school in September, 2012.

The charity supports children and young people aged from four to 19 with serious physical and learning disabilities.