SLAF CONDUCTS HIGH-RISE BUILDING FIRE EVACUATION AND RESCUE DRILL AT HAVELOCK CITY
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Fire and Rescue Service conducted a High-Rise Building Rescue (HRBR) and Fire Evacuation Drill at Havelock City, Colombo, on 16 September 2026. This marked the first-ever fire evacuation and high-rise rescue drill conducted at the building, which has a total height of approximately 98.01 meters. The exercise was designed to enhance the operational readiness, coordination and response capabilities of SLAF Fire and Rescue personnel in dealing with complex high-rise emergencies involving fire, toxic smoke, casualties and technical rescue from elevated locations.
A hypothetical fire emergency was simulated on the 17th Floor of Stafford Tower following a CEB power surge, resulting in the spread of fire and highly toxic smoke to adjacent floors. Despite the building’s fire detection and suppression systems, external firefighting assistance was required. The scenario involved two technicians trapped on the 7th Floor due to electrocution and approximately 10 personnel incapacitated by toxic smoke. Following activation of the building’s emergency procedures, the SLAF Fire and Rescue Service conducted technical rescue, firefighting, CASEVAC and evacuation operations, with the objective of safely rescuing victims, controlling the simulated fire and evacuating personnel to the designated Emergency Assembly Point.
As part of the exercise, SLAF Fire and Rescue personnel conducted technical Search and Rescue, BA Smoke Diving, Rappelling and victim extraction, firefighting and fire suppression, CASEVAC, and evacuation operations, while establishing security cordons and supporting post incident investigations. The rehearsal demonstrated SLAF firefighters’ capability to effectively rescue victims, manage a high-rise fire emergency and safely evacuate casualties.
A total of 33 SLAF Fire and Rescue personnel participated in the evacuation and rescue drill, demonstrating their capabilities in high-rise firefighting, technical rescue, smoke diving and casualty evacuation.
The exercise was conducted under the guidance of the Director General Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Dhammika Dias, and supervised by the Chief Fire Officer, Group Captain Prasanna Jayawickrama. The exercise was commanded by Squadron Leader AMCG Adikari, while Rappel Master duties was performed by 31782 Flight Sergeant Chathuranga JADLN.
The successful conduct of the exercise highlighted the SLAF Fire and Rescue Service's capability to respond effectively to complex high-rise emergencies and reinforced the importance of interagency coordination, specialized rescue techniques, disciplined command and control, and rapid casualty evacuation in safeguarding lives during major emergencies.
A hypothetical fire emergency was simulated on the 17th Floor of Stafford Tower following a CEB power surge, resulting in the spread of fire and highly toxic smoke to adjacent floors. Despite the building’s fire detection and suppression systems, external firefighting assistance was required. The scenario involved two technicians trapped on the 7th Floor due to electrocution and approximately 10 personnel incapacitated by toxic smoke. Following activation of the building’s emergency procedures, the SLAF Fire and Rescue Service conducted technical rescue, firefighting, CASEVAC and evacuation operations, with the objective of safely rescuing victims, controlling the simulated fire and evacuating personnel to the designated Emergency Assembly Point.
As part of the exercise, SLAF Fire and Rescue personnel conducted technical Search and Rescue, BA Smoke Diving, Rappelling and victim extraction, firefighting and fire suppression, CASEVAC, and evacuation operations, while establishing security cordons and supporting post incident investigations. The rehearsal demonstrated SLAF firefighters’ capability to effectively rescue victims, manage a high-rise fire emergency and safely evacuate casualties.
A total of 33 SLAF Fire and Rescue personnel participated in the evacuation and rescue drill, demonstrating their capabilities in high-rise firefighting, technical rescue, smoke diving and casualty evacuation.
The exercise was conducted under the guidance of the Director General Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Dhammika Dias, and supervised by the Chief Fire Officer, Group Captain Prasanna Jayawickrama. The exercise was commanded by Squadron Leader AMCG Adikari, while Rappel Master duties was performed by 31782 Flight Sergeant Chathuranga JADLN.
The successful conduct of the exercise highlighted the SLAF Fire and Rescue Service's capability to respond effectively to complex high-rise emergencies and reinforced the importance of interagency coordination, specialized rescue techniques, disciplined command and control, and rapid casualty evacuation in safeguarding lives during major emergencies.
