Fire crews turn closed Fort Regent play zone into training ground

Firefighters in Jersey have been sharpening their rescue techniques in an unexpected setting — the former children’s soft play centre at Fort Regent.

Images shared by the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service show on-call crews fully kitted out in breathing apparatus, moving through the brightly coloured rope bridges, slides and climbing frames of the former Adventures Playzone, which shut to the public last year.

The visit formed part of a tactical training exercise designed to simulate challenging, low-visibility environments. Firefighters focused on breathing apparatus air management, with the use of oxygen cylinders and masks, alongside hazardous materials (HAZMAT) awareness and response techniques.

Officials said the session also helped strengthen teamwork, communication and overall crew cohesion in realistic operational conditions.

The Adventures Playzone closed in late September as part of the wider shutdown of Fort Regent’s leisure facilities, with a replacement indoor play area later opening at the Jersey Waterfront.

Islanders have been told the Fort site is set for a major redevelopment, with plans to transform it into a “premier leisure destination” as part of a £110 million regeneration project.